Protesters storm president’s residence, occupy swimming pool, balcony

Sri Lankans protesting in capital Colombo have occupied the president’s official residence.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence was occupied Saturday this morning during an anti-government march.

The nation of 22 million has been hit by forex crunch.

Essential imports like fuel, food and medicine have been affected.

Storming his house, the protesters jumped into the president’s swimming pool after storming his house, while others roamed across the overlooking balcony.

Rajapaksa is believed to have been moved from the official residence on Friday July 8, over safety concerns.

His office building has been occupied for the past three months.

Video posted on social media showed hundreds of protesters running into the president’s residence, chanting “Gota go home”.

At the president’s office, security personnel tried to stop protesters who passed through the fences and stormed the colonial-era parliament building, which has been converted into his office.

At least 34 people including two police officers were injured in scuffles as protesters tried to enter the residence.