Colombo - Protesters broke into the Sri Lankan prime minister’s private residence and set it on fire, hours after he said he would resign when a new government is formed, in the biggest day of angry demonstrations on Saturday that also saw crowds storming the president’s home and office.
The office of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the protesters forced their way into his Colombo home on Saturday evening. It wasn’t immediately clear if he was inside at the time of the attack.
Wickremesinghe said earlier that he will resign only when all parties have agreed on a new government.
He was responding to a call by leaders of political parties represented in Parliament that he and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa quit, after tens of thousands of people trooped to the capital to vent their fury at the leaders they hold responsible for the nation’s worst economic and political crisis.
The crowds earlier Saturday broke into Rajapaksa fortified residence. Footage showed people in a jubilant mood taking a dip in the garden pool of the residence. Some lay on beds, others made tea and drank, and made “statements” from the conference room that Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe must immediately quit.
Sri Lanka’s economy is in a state of collapse, relying on aid from India and other countries as its leaders try to negotiate a bailout with the International Monetary Fund. The economic meltdown has led to severe shortages of essential items, leaving people struggling to buy food, fuel and other necessities.
U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung on Friday asked people to protest peacefully and called for the military and police “to grant peaceful protesters the space and security to do so.”
Cardinal Ranjith's warnings
Earlier this week, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo reiterated calls for the Sri Lankan president's resignation.
At a press conference held on Tuesday in the prelate’s residence, the Cardinal suggested that the Rajapaksa family has lost public credibility and noting that attempts to prove otherwise would fail.
“On behalf of the suffering people,” he said, "I strongly ask the President and the Government of Sri Lanka to take responsibility for the sad situation and resign from their positions, since they no longer have the moral right to remain in office.”
The leader of the Church in Sri Lanka called for the immediate formation of an interim government leading to general elections to overcome the ongoing economic and financial crisis in the country.
Pope appeals for ensuring rights and liberties in Sri Lanka
During Pope Francis’ Wednesday General Audience on 11 May, the Pope turned his thoughts to the crisis-hit South Asian nation.
The Pope sent his greeting especially to the “young people who in recent times have made their cry heard in the face of the country's social and economic challenges and problems.”
“I join religious authorities," he said, "in urging all parties to maintain a peaceful attitude, without yielding to violence.”
Pope Francis also called on Sri Lanka’s ruling political leaders to heed the voices of protesters.
“I appeal to all those with responsibilities," he said, "to listen to the aspirations of the people and to ensure full respect for human rights and civil liberties.”
-Ap/VN