Sri Lanka: Citizens occupy Rashtrapati Bhavan

Colombo, The citizens of Sri Lanka have occupied the Rashtrapati Bhavan. A group of thousands of people protesting against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa reached Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday and broke into the Rashtrapati Bhavan, breaking the barrier put up by the police. Police used tear gas, hurled water cannons and fired bullets at the protesters on Saturday morning to prevent them from entering the presidential residence. Despite this, the demonstrators broke the barriers and entered the presidential residence and created a ruckus.

At least 30 people, including two policemen, were injured in the clash between the protesters and the police. In view of the demonstration of the people, curfew was imposed in many places including the capital Colombo on Friday. But the curfew was lifted on Saturday after protests by civilian groups. After that thousands of protesters reached Rashtrapati Bhavan and entered Rashtrapati Bhavan by removing barricades placed on the way there.

It is being told that the police fired tear gas shells on the protesters and also opened fire. Despite this, however, the protesters barged into the residence and swam in the President’s swimming pool. In the video released later, people gathered around the Rashtrapati Bhavan. People were seen roaming from the President’s bedroom to the kitchen of Rashtrapati Bhavan.