Ranil Wickremesinghe, the prime minister of Sri Lanka, ordered the military to take “whatever action is required to restore order” after demonstrators broke into his office on Wednesday.
Since President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has left the nation, Mr. Wickremesinghe has been named acting president.
But when it was decided to leave him in charge, more demonstrations followed calling for the resignation of the prime minister
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Many hold the Rajapaksa administration responsible for the situation and Mr. Wickremesinghe, who took office as prime minister in May, is seen as contributing to the issue.
Protesters stormed into a highly secure governmental building on Wednesday for the second time in less than a week.
People at the prime minister’s office lounged on sumptuous sofas while taking pictures, while others stood on chairs and tables waving the Sri Lankan flag, evoking earlier scenes from the occupied president’s official mansion over the weekend.
Mr. Wickremesinghe urged protestors to leave his office and other occupied state facilities and work with the police in a speech on television.
“Our constitution cannot be dismantled. Fascists must not be allowed to rule. This Nazi threat to democracy must cease, “he state
“Our democracy has been quite strong, and legislators have always been chosen by the people. However, given the fact that this circumstance is unprecedented, anything is possible “She added.
Armed soldiers were reportedly present outside the president’s office as demonstrators celebrated inside, according to Tessa Wong of the BBC.
Additionally, protesters disregarded the prime minister’s requests for the office to be cleared.
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After the property was attacked, a businessman named Satish Bee said to AFP, “We feel proud.” “This nation lacks effective governance. Never has it been favorable… The youth do not want things to continue in this way.”
As news of President Rajapaksa’s flight to the Maldives spread, the turmoil persisted.
After Saturday’s invasion of his official residence, the president fled and announced his intention to step down.
In order to avoid the prospect of being arrested by the incoming administration, it is believed that the leader, who has enjoyed immunity from prosecution as president, planned to leave the country before resigning. He has not yet turned in an official letter of resignation.
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