Sri Lanka: Protesters hand back iconic Govt buildings to authorities

Colombo: Sri Lanka's anti-government demonstrators on Thursday decided to vacate some of the iconic administrative buildings, including the President's House and the Prime Minister's Office.

The protestors occupied President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's presidential palace and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's private house on 9 July. However Prime Minister's Office was overrun on Wednesday.
 
"We are peacefully withdrawing from all buildings except the old parliament (president's office) and Galle Face (the continuous protest site). We will continue to remain in these places, we will continue to protest until we reach our goals," a spokesperson for the protestors group told reporters.

Also Read | Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign, PM confirms

The President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Wednesday fled to the Maldives on a military jet, hours before he was supposed to step down in the face of a public revolt against him and his family for mishandling the economy that has bankrupted the country.

Rajapaksa, the 73-year-old leader who had promised to resign on Wednesday, appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the acting President hours after he fled the country, escalating the political crisis and triggering a fresh wave of protests. (with Agency inputs)

Also Read | Sri Lanka PM declares emergency as President Rajapaksa flees to Maldives

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