Sri Lanka Crisis | Demonstrators Claim They Found 17.85 Million Rupees From Rajapaksa's Residence

The confiscated money, according to Sri Lanka's daily newspaper, Daily Mirror, was handed over to security agencies.

Protesters on top of the exterior staircase of the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.

Source : Getty Images

Demonstrators who attacked President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's residence on Saturday claimed to have recovered 17.85 million Sri Lankan Rupees inside his mansion, as reported by news agency PTI.  The confiscated money, according to Sri Lanka's daily newspaper, Daily Mirror, was handed over to security agencies.

Several dramatic videos have circulated on social media following Saturday's uprising in which thousands of protestors attacked his official mansion in Colombo, forcing him to flee to an unknown destination.

#WATCH | Protestors reach the grounds of Presidential palace in Colombo, Sri Lanka

It's time that we got all our stolen money back to this country. The ACs were running in Presidential palace while people didn't have electricity in their homes: A local

(Source: Reuters) pic.twitter.com/YZE0N6udWu

— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2022

They broke into the President's house, tearing down police security cordons, swimming in the pool, and romping around his kitchen and residence, demanding President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's resignation.

According to the media outlet, in one of the social media videos, demonstrators are shown counting the money notes that they claim were discovered at the President's official house.

Sri Lankan officials stated that the issue can only be understood when they investigate it and gather pertinent data.

According to the media source, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Shavendra Silva asked all residents to assist the armed forces and police in order to keep the nation peaceful. He delivered these statements in a special statement with Tri Force Commanders present.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Minister of Tourism and Lands Harin Fernando and Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara have announced their intention to resign from their respective positions with immediate effect.

Protesters in Sri Lanka also stormed into and set fire to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's private mansion, enraged by the extraordinary economic situation.

Several journalists were also attacked by security personnel, prompting additional demonstrators to congregate in the vicinity, according to the Daily Mirror.

To disperse the agitated demonstrators, police used water cannons.

The police also used tear gas on the demonstrators, but they nevertheless broke into the PM's residence and set it on fire.

According to the Daily Mirror, the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) fire department was notified that the Prime Minister's private mansion in Colombo had been set on fire and that its crews were unable to access the spot owing to the turmoil.

Wickremesinghe, named Prime Minister in May, has indicated that he will retire to secure the government's continuity and the safety of all residents.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has also decided to resign on Wednesday.

(With Inputs From ANI)