Sri Lankan president will resign after protestors storm the palace and PM’s home

Resignations seem to be the flavour of month

Government sources say Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will step down after mass protests culminated in crowds storming both the presidential palace and the prime minister's official residence. They are still occupying both, seen using the pool, gym facilities and beds. Moreover, they say they have no intention of leaving until leaders officially resign. https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1546198840310747137?s=20&t=aQ6xTfIxo97H3xHtpOg7ww Speaking on Saturday, the nation's parliament speaker said the president would resign on July 13, with PM Ranil Wickremesinghe also suggesting he would step down from his position. However, his office is now said to have issued a statement that says Rajapaksa intends to leave office on Wednesday, yet there has been no word from the man himself. Here is the moment thousands gathered in the capital of Colombo storm the place: https://twitter.com/Rezhasan/status/1545692380921098242?s=20&t=aQ6xTfIxo97H3xHtpOg7ww Under the Sri Lankan constitution, a resignation can only formally be accepted when he resigns by letter of his writing to the parliament speaker, which has yet to happen and people are sceptical - his absence is also causing some concern. While his current whereabouts remain unknown, military sources have told the BBC that they believe he is currently on a navy vessel in Sri Lankan waters, adding that his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa (a former PM) is holed up in a naval base. The protests themselves have been going on since March 15 as the people of Sri Lanka say the president and his ministers are responsible for the corruption and mismanagement which has led to an economic collapse across the South Asian country. Under their leadership, the nation has been hit not only with heavy inflation but is struggling to import food, fuel and medicine, leading to hunger, power cuts and regular unrest.

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