Sri Lankan leaders finally resign after residences stormed in dramatic protests

Crowds swept through the home of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday while burning down the Prime Minister's house during protests sparked by worsening economic hardship in Sri Lanka

Swarms of protesters storm the Presidents' house (

Image: Reuters)

Sri Lankan leaders have finally agreed to step down after their official residences were stormed in dramatic protests.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday said he would leave after huge crowds rushed to his palace and also set fire to the Prime Minister's house.

Mr. Rajapaksa will step down on Wednesday and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has also agreed to step down.

Thousands of people descended on Colombo on Saturday to demand the president's departure after months of protests.

He was blamed for the poor economic management of the country, resulting in shortages of food, fuel and medicine.

Sri Lankan protesters hold flaming torches (

Picture:

CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Protesters invaded the president's bedroom, jumped into his pool and even lined up for breakfast, while others played cards in the prime minister's residence.

The parliament speaker said Mr Rajapaksa had decided to step down "to ensure a peaceful transfer of power" and urged people to obey the law.

The contrast between the luxury of the palace and the months of hardship endured by the country's 22 million people was not lost on protesters.

Protester Fiona Sirmana said it was time "to get rid of the president and the prime minister, and usher in a new era for Sri Lanka".