Sri Lanka: Protesters Chase Away President Rajapaksa From The Country

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country on Saturday after hundreds of demonstrators demanding his resignation stormed his official mansion. 

Bloomberg reported that Mr. Rajapaksa left his official residence at about 10:00 a.m. Saturday morning, citing Mr. Rajapaksa’s secretary, Gamini Senarath.  

Local television showed protestors bursting through police security precautions to enter Mr. Rajapaksa’s office and apartment in the commercial hub.

At least 31 individuals were hurt in the protests, including two police officers, and are being treated at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL).  

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has convened an emergency meeting of political party leaders in response to mounting criticism of the government’s handling of the economic crisis.

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Sri Lanka is experiencing its biggest financial crisis in recent memory, with its 22 million citizens unable to purchase food, medication, or gasoline. The government is suffering from a currency crisis, which has prevented imports of gasoline, food, and medication. 

Last week, Sri Lanka appealed for credit from other countries, international companies, and foreign suppliers for fuel stocks to get them through the next two weeks.  

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After Power and Energy Minister, Kanchana Wijesekara stated that the government only had enough gasoline supplies for one day and that the next petrol cargo was scheduled in two weeks.

The Lanka Indian Oil Company distributed one million gallons of petrol and diesel to its 202 fuel stations.

Over 1,200 state-controlled gasoline stations have ceased distributing fuel for private automobiles in order to save it for vehicles used to sustain important services like health and food distribution.