Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled his official residence on Saturday shortly before protesters, angered by an unprecedented economic crisis, overran the compound and stormed his nearby office.
After storming the presidential palace in Colombo, some protestors swam in the pool at the official residenceSome were seen laughing and lounging in the stately bedrooms of the residence with one pulling out what he claimed was a pair of the president's underwear.
The colonial-era mansion he left is one of Sri Lanka's key symbols of state power, and officials said Rajapaksa's departure raised questions as to whether he intended to remain in office. Security forces attempted to disperse the huge crowds that had mobbed Colombo's administrative district. The government has defaulted on its $51 billion external debt and is seeking an International Monetary Fund bailout.
Thousands of anti-government protesters ignored the stay-home order and even forced railway authorities to operate trains to take them to Colombo for Saturday's rally, officials said. The camp was the scene of clashes in May when a gang of Rajapaksa loyalists attacked peaceful protesters gathered there.
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