Sri Lanka’s president has fled the country after protesters stormed his home and office amid a three-month economic crisis.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, his wife and two bodyguards boarded a Sri Lankan Air Force plane to Male city – the capital of the Maldives.
It comes just days after activists took over his residence, as well as the official home of the country’s prime minister, in the face of their outrage at the current economic situation.
Mr. Rajapaksa was agree to resignwhile Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said he would leave when there is a new government.
However, promises of resignation have not ended the crisis, with protesters vowing to occupy official buildings until the top leaders are gone.
People have rush to the presidential palaceSwim in its pool, play games in its hallways and picnic in its garden.
Many people bring their children with them as they survey the luxury as schools have been closed for the past few weeks because there is not enough electricity to run them.
At one point, protesters even set fire to the prime minister’s private house.
Lawmakers have agreed to elect a new president next week, but they have been struggling to decide who should take over as prime minister and fill the Cabinet.
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Crowds in Sri Lanka occupy the palace
The new president will serve the remainder of Rajapaksa’s term, which ends in 2024 – and potentially appoint a new prime minister, who will then have to be approved by parliament.
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Activists took action after corruption and mismanagement left the island nation in debt and unable to pay for imported necessities.
Food and fuel shortages have left Sri Lankans queuing for hours to buy supplies.
As a result, the country had to ask for money from the International Monetary Fund, Japan, Russia, China and Qatar.
