The president of Sri Lanka on the run, his official residence invaded by demonstrators

Police use tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters gathered near the residence of the President of the Republic, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, July 8, 2022. DINUKA LIYANAWATTE / REUTERS Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa , fled his official residence in Colombo on Friday, July 8. He remains president of the country and is now protected by the army in an undisclosed location, a source from the Sri Lankan defense ministry said on Saturday. Local television channels showed images of hundreds of people, national flag in hand, knocking down several police roadblocks and scaling the gates of the presidential palace in the heart of the economic capital. This follows a demonstration that brought together tens of thousands of people demanding the resignation of Mr. Rajapaksa, held responsible for the unprecedented economic crisis affecting Sri Lanka. At least 21 people, including two police officers, have been injured and hospitalized during the ongoing protests, hospital sources told Reuters. On Friday, an indefinite curfew was declared in Colombo, while thousands of demonstrators were already beginning to flock to demand the resignation of the president. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinga has called an emergency government meeting to discuss a “swift resolution” to the ongoing political crisis. Mr Wickremesinga, who would replace Mr Rajapaksa if the latter steps down, invited political party leaders to join the meeting and also called for parliament to be convened urgently to discuss the crisis, his office said in a statement. a statement. Short of foreign currency due to poor economic management and the impact of the crisis caused by the Covid-19 epidemic, this island country is encountering difficulties in importing, in particular essential products, which is causing serious shortages of medicine, food and fuel. The 22 million inhabitants have also suffered galloping inflation and prolonged power cuts since the beginning of the year. Read also: Article reserved for our subscribers Sri Lanka, an island adrift Le Monde with AFP and Reuters