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Residents of Sri Lanka today marched around the looted presidential palace, after calm was restored in the capital Colombo, a day after protesters stormed the building and forced President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to announce his resignation.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has also said he will resign to allow a caretaker government involving all parties to take over the country.
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IMF talks
Political chaos may complicate Sri Lanka's efforts to emerge from an economic crisis caused by a severe foreign exchange shortage that has led to a suspension of imports of food, fuel and medicine.
The International Monetary Fund, which is in talks with the Sri Lankan government to provide the country with a $3 billion bailout package, said today it was closely monitoring developments.
Anger over the economic situation reached a fever pitch yesterday Saturday with a crowd of people storming the presidential palace. Some even took the opportunity to take a dip in the pool.
About 45 people were evacuated to Colombo's main hospital yesterday, but there are no reports of deaths.
"They were living in absolute luxury while we suffered."
Today surprised citizens took the opportunity to explore the presidential grand building.
Members of the security forces, some carrying guns, stood outside the complex but did not prevent people from entering.
Among them was 61-year-old manila seller B. M. Chadrawathi who was wandering around the first floor of the building with her daughter and grandchildren.
"I have never seen such a place in my life," she said, sitting on a comfortable sofa. "They lived in absolute luxury while we suffered," she lamented."
Nearby, a group of men were lying on a bed while others took turns climbing an exercise treadmill with a breathtaking view of the mansion's gardens.
"Peaceful transition"
Once a middle-income country with a standard of living that was the envy of India, Sri Lanka was hit hard by the loss of tourism revenue following a jihadist attack in 2019 and then due to the covid-19 pandemic.
The worst economic crisis that the country of 22 million people has ever faced is the one that has hit the country. since its independence in 1948 has been exacerbated, economists say, by a series of bad policy decisions that citizens blame on the family of the president who has been in power since 2005.
80% are forced to skip meals
Like most Sri Lankans, Chadrawathi is struggling to make ends meet due to inflation, the devaluation of the country's currency, chronic fuel shortages and constant power cuts.
Inflation reached 54.6% in June, with the central bank warning that it could reach 70% in the coming months.
The UN estimates that about 80% of the country's population is forced to skip meals.
Lying on a wooden sofa, Uasantha Kumara said he spent the night at the presidential palace.
The water in the pool has become dirty and no one swims in it today.
"If he does not leave..."
Kumara, 33, a civil servant, said he wants Rajapaksa to honour his commitment and resign on Wednesday, July 13.
"If he does not leave, I will keep coming here and I will keep sleeping here until he does," he warned."
Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeyuardena assessed that Rajapaksa's decision to resign "was taken to ensure a peaceful transition of power," although the details of the transition are not clear.
Two of his close associates have already resigned: the head of the press service and the media minister who also gave up his position as head of the presidential party.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa himself has reportedly left by boat for southern Sri Lanka, according to a security source.
Source: in.gr
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