Unrest in Sri Lanka as thousands protest

Protesters stormed the Sri Lankan leader’s official residence in Colombo on Saturday as more than 100,000 people gathered outside, police said, calling on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign over his handling of the economic crisis from the country.

The demonstrators enter the presidential residence: Video shown on Sri Lankan television and social media showed protesters entering the president’s home – Rajapaksa’s office and residence in the commercial capital – after breaking through police-placed security cordons .

Rajapaksa is not at the site and has been moved elsewhere, security officials told CNN. It is not known how many security personnel are present at the scene.

Footage from Colombo paints a chaotic scene, with images showing protesters fleeing tear gas and clashing with police in bulletproof vests.

What sparked the protests? The South Asian nation is suffering its worst financial crisis in recent history, leaving millions struggling to buy food, medicine and fuel.

Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in recent months, calling on the country’s leaders to step down over accusations of economic mismanagement.

Schools have been suspended and fuel has been limited to essential services. Patients cannot travel to hospitals due to fuel shortages and soaring food prices.

Train frequency has decreased, forcing travelers to squeeze into compartments and even sit precariously on them when commuting to work.

In several major cities, including Colombo, hundreds of people are forced to queue for hours to buy fuel, sometimes clashing with police and military as they wait.