Thousands of protesters in Sri Lanka have broken through police barricades and stormed the president’s residence and office in one of the largest anti-government marches in the crisis-hit country this year.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has fled his home as protesters surrounded and stormed his residenceon Saturday, reported news agency AFP.
Many in the island nation of 22 million people blame the country’s decline on Rajapaksa. Largely peaceful protests since March have demanded his resignation.
At least seven people, including two policemen, were injured as the protesters and police clashed.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has called an emergency meeting of political party leaders amid growing anger over the government’s handling of an economic crisis.
Wickremesinghe also requested the speaker to summon parliament.
