Will Occupy Prez, PM Homes Till They Quit: Protesters

Lanka Oppn Meets To Name New Govt; ‘Prez Orders’ Distribution Of Cooking Gas

LANKANS FEEL AT HOME IN PREZ AND PM’S HOUSES

At the PM’s residence, they played carrom and cards, hit the gym, and cooked food. At the president’s house, the protesters did flips in the pool, lounged on canopied beds, banged on a piano, and took over the podium. After months of agitation, Sri Lanka has turned into a symbol of ‘people power’

Colombo: Sri Lanka’s opposition parties met on Sunday to agree on a new government a day after the country’s president and prime minister offered to resign following the most dramatic day of monthslong political turmoil, with protesters storming the leaders’ homes in a rage over the economic crisis. Protesters remained in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence, his seaside office and the PM’s home, saying they would stay until the resignations are official. The president’s whereabouts were unknown, but a statement from his office said he ordered the immediate distribution of a cooking gas consignment to the public, suggesting that he was still at work.

Soldiers were deployed around the city and the chief of defence staff, Shavendra Silva, called for public support to maintain law and order. But troops simply watched from afar as crowds of people splashed in the garden pool of Rajapaksa’s sprawling residence, lounged on beds and took selfies of themselves on their cellphones to capture the moment. Occupants of the prime minister’s official residence cooked in an outdoor kitchen, played carrom and slept on sofas.