Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Promises Resignation After Protestors Stormed Capital

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Jul 12, 2022
Protesters try to remove a tear gas shell after it was fired by police to disperse them in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, July 9, 2022. Sri Lankan protesters demanding that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resign forced their way into his official residence on Saturday, a local television report said, as thousands of people took to the streets in the capital decrying the island nation’s worst economic crisis in recent memory. (AP Photo/Amitha Thennakoon)

Is this an example of an actual insurrection? Sri Lanka is facing a historical moment for their nation after the nation’s president said he will leave office following protestors storming the presidential place Saturday. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa promised to step down on July 13, Parliamentary Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena announced in a report by Sri Lankan news service adaderana.lk.

“The decision to step down on 13 July was taken to ensure a peaceful handover of power,” Abeywardena said. “I therefore request the public to respect the law and maintain peace.”

News of the president’s decision to step down reportedly led to celebrations in various parts of Colombo, the nation’s capital, with fireworks in sight.

Videos of Sri Lankan protests against the heads of state went viral, with extreme amounts of property damage seen on camera.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe additionally agreed to step down amidst the country’s foreign exchange shortage leading to concerns with the national supply of fuel, food, medicine, and other goods. Fox News reported that the shortage has pushed the island into its worst financial situation in 70 years.

“To ensure the continuation of the Government including the safety of all citizens I accept the best recommendation of the Party Leaders today, to make way for an All-Party Government,” Wickremesinghe posted. “To facilitate this I will resign as Prime Minister.”

A witness to the violent protests told Fox News that thousands of demonstrators physically forced their way into Colombo’s government district, breaking multiple police barricades before reaching the house of Rajapaksa. The same witness told the outlet police fired shots in the air in an attempt to stop protestors from surrounding the president’s house but ultimately failed.

Sri Lanka has been suffering from a nationwide financial catastrophe as of late, reporting an inflation level of 54.6% in June. The nation is currently in discussions with the International Monetary Fund in hopes of receiving $3 billion to help soften unprecedented economic burdens.

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