Protesters swim in Sri Lanka’s president’s pool – and warn they will stay until he leaves office | World News
Those swimming in Sri Lanka’s presidential pool said they would stay at the official residence in Colombo until Gotabaya Rajapaksa finally leaves office.
Protesters have also stormed the home of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, protesting against an economic disaster that has left many struggling to afford two meals a day.
Both men said they will resign.
Mr. Rajapaksa will depart on Wednesday, according to a parliamentary spokesman, but there has been no direct word from him.
However, Mr Rajapaksa confirmed to Mr Wickremesinghe that he would step down, the prime minister’s office said on Monday.
But many “don’t believe it and won’t believe it until they see it in action,” said Sky News reporter Nicole Johnston, who spoke to protesters at the president’s home.
Until that happens, they will continue to occupy the president’s house as well as some important buildings around the city.
Many people have brought their children with them when they survey luxury. Schools have been closed for the past few weeks because there is not enough electricity to run them.
Protesters look around the official presidential residence. Photo: AP
Johnston added that the country has “burned all its foreign currency (and) doesn’t have enough money for food, fuel or medicine”.
As a result, it had to ask for money from the International Monetary Fund, Japan, Russia, China and Qatar.
“Citizens are asked to take Friday off to go home and plant their crops,” Johnston said.
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“They’ve also been told that in five years they can go abroad, get another job, send that money back to Sri Lanka and in the end they still have a job here. That’s the desperation of the land. this country.”
However, the mood has changed since Saturday, a day when tens of thousands of people took to the streets in frustration.
It’s almost a carnival or festive atmosphere here now,” Johnston said.
