World

Moment Sri Lanka protesters storm presidential palace – and take a dip in swimming pool

Thousands of protesters in Sri Lanka have broken through police barricades and stormed the president’s official residence, news reports have said.

In one of the largest anti-government marches in the country this year, the protesters are demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Thousands of people swarmed into Sri Lankan capital Colombo’s government district, shouting slogans against the president and dismantling several police barricades to reach Mr Rajapaksa’s house, according to the Reuters news agency.

Police fired shots in the air but were unable to stop the angry crowd from surrounding the presidential residence.

At least 21 people including two police officers have been hurt by the unrest, hospital sources said.

The president was removed from his official premises as a safety precaution, according to two defence ministry sources, as hundreds of protestors were seen packed inside the property on a Facebook livestream.

Sri Lanka, which has a population of 22 million people, is facing its worst economic crisis since 1948.

More on Sri Lanka

It has been struggling under a severe foreign exchange shortage that has limited essential imports of fuel, food and medicine.

Many blame the country’s decline on Mr Rajapaksa, who has faced ongoing calls to resign.

Anger has intensified in recent weeks as fuel shipments dwindled, leading to petrol and diesel being rationed for essential services.

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