According to AFP, which cited sources in prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s office, the Sri Lankan government announced a state of emergency on Wednesday after embattled president Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives late on Tuesday night. New demonstrations broke out in the island nation today after a mob of incensed locals stormed the prime minister’s house in Colombo and demanded that he also quit.
Thousands were seen scaling complex walls in an ANI video, completely unaware that security personnel were using water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd. Wickremesinghe was sworn in with the expectation that he would end this problem, but protesters now refer to him as a “failed prime minister.”
After months of clinging to power amid escalating and violent protests, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is anticipated to step down later today.
The Sri Lankan Constitution designates the prime minister as the acting president; however, protesters have made it very apparent that they will not accept this.
“Because the Prime Minister automatically assumes the presidency in the event that the President steps down, we want the PM to step down. The public wants them both removed “According to a former government advisor for Sri Lanka who has joined the demonstrations, news outlet ANI.
