Turmoil in Sri Lanka: Protesters set PM Ranil’s house on fire

July 9: Amid a massive public protest in Sri Lanka over the unprecedented economic crisis, protests have taken an ugly and violent turn. Sri Lankan prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe house has been set on fire. The protestors entered Wickremesinghe’s house and set the place on fire after a tense situation erupted between the protestors and security forces on the ground. Despite tear gas being fired on the protestors to disperse, they entered his house and set the house on fire.

Protesters are demanding resignations of Wickremesinghe and Gotabaya for their failure to improve the Sri Lankan financial crisis, which is the worst in the country’s history. Prices have risen in recent months and the country has been suffering from grave shortages of essentials like cooking gas, vehicular fuel, edibles, and thermal fuel to produce electricity. Earlier in the evening, Prime Minister  Wickremesinghe announced he would resign to make way for an all-party government.

Ranil's 5th lane residence on fire after sustained standoff between protestors and police/stf in which incessant rounds of tear gas were fired at protestors for a few hours at least. pic.twitter.com/Q6mV0Ip4oK

— Roel Raymond (@roelraymond) July 9, 2022

Earlier in the day, anti-government protesters entered the Presidential House in Colombo. The president’s whereabouts were unknown and it is believed the 73-year-old leader left the house before the massive mob arrived.