Video: Footage Released of Sri Lanka Prime Minister's Burned House by Protesters

As previously reported, protesters in Sri Lanka have set fire to the residence of the country's Prime Minister. Footage from the burned house has been shared online.

Recall that on July 9, massive protests took place in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. Instead of a planned peaceful march, protesters broke through police barricades and seized the President's residence. At least 40 people sustained injuries during the protests, including two police officers. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been evacuated, and according to media reports, he has fled the country by plane.

Additionally, local media reports that Sri Lankan police have arrested three individuals suspected of being involved in the arson of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's house.

Leaders of the country's political parties have called for the President and Prime Minister to resign during an extraordinary meeting, appointing the Speaker of Parliament as the interim president, and selecting a new head of state from among parliamentary members within 30 days, as well as forming a temporary coalition government and holding early elections.

The Speaker of Parliament has announced that the President will resign on July 13, and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has agreed to step down. Later, the Prime Minister's press service released a statement indicating that he would resign after the formation of a new government composed of all political parties and a parliamentary majority.

Sri Lanka is currently facing a severe economic crisis, with shortages of food, essential items, medicines, and gas. The pandemic has severely impacted tourism, a key source of foreign currency, rendering the authorities unable to procure sufficient fuel. The country's external debt is estimated at $51 billion.