Sri Lankans Rejoice As President, Prime Minister Step Down

Sri Lanka awoke to an uncertain future on Sunday, July 10, 2022, with both its President and Prime Minister likely to resign after hundreds of demonstrators stormed their homes in rage over the country's catastrophic economic situation, Iqbal Athas, Rhea Mogul, Amy Woodyatt and Nectar Gan reported for CNN.

Photo Insert: Protesters who stormed the residence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa found that the former President had hidden away millions of rupees in cash.

The speaker of the country's parliament said late Saturday that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had agreed to quit on July 13, following a chaotic day that saw protestors break into Rajapaksa's official mansion in Colombo and splash around in his swimming pool.

The announcements, which were met with cheers and fireworks, marked a historic win for the demonstrators, who have been calling for Rajapaksa's resignation for months due to his government's failure to solve the country's economic disaster.

The Indian Ocean Island nation of 22 million people has been thrown into a humanitarian crisis as a result of economic turbulence, with millions struggling to buy food, medication, and fuel.

After months of mostly peaceful rallies, more than 100,000 people gathered outside Rajapaksa's mansion on Saturday to demand his resignation.

Protesters were seen breaking through security cordons and entering the President's House, Rajapaksa's office and residence, in video footage carried on Sri Lankan television and social media. Images show protesters inside the whitewashed colonial-style building and banners hung from the balcony.

Later that day, a live video posted by local media and obtained by CNN showed Wickremesinghe's house engulfed in flames as crowds gathered.

When the buildings were breached, neither the President nor the Prime Minister were present. The dramatic escalation of disturbance on Saturday could mark the end of the Rajapaksa political dynasty, which has dominated Sri Lanka for the majority of the last two decades.

On Saturday, Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena stated that Rajapaksa's decision to stand down "was taken to ensure a peaceful handover of power," but how that transition of power will ultimately play out remains unknown.

If both Wickremesinghe and Rajapaksa resign, the speaker of parliament will serve as acting president for a maximum of 30 days, according to the Sri Lankan constitution. Within 30 days, Parliament will choose a new president from among its members to serve for the remaining two years of the current mandate.

WEEKLY FEATURE : MVP Group Keeps Lights On During Pandemic