Calm returned to major cities in Sri Lanka on Sunday after protesters stormed the official residence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and set fire to the home of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The president and the prime minister both indicated that they intended to step down after the protests, which came amid acute shortages and rising prices caused by an economic collapse.
Protesters, many wrapped in the Sri Lankan flag, swarmed into Mr Rajapaksa’s official residence in Colombo on Saturday after breaking through police barriers. Others later set fire to the private home of Mr Wickremesinghe.
Protesters were still present in the president’s residence on Sunday, parts of which had been smashed.
Neither Mr Rajapaksa nor Mr Wickremesinghe were in their residences when the buildings were attacked.
The president left on Friday as a precaution before the planned demonstration, two defence ministry sources told Reuters. His whereabouts are not clear.
Sri Lankans have staged largely peaceful demonstration for months to demand his resignation. His brother, Mahinda Rajapaksa, resigned as prime minister in May.
Mr Wickremesinghe, a six-time prime minister who is seen as part of an uncaring ruling elite, also agreed to step down to make way for an all-party government, his office said.
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