PROTESTERS who stormed president Gotabaya Rajapaksa's house on Saturday (9) amid the country's worst economic crisis claimed to have recovered a large sum of money from the mansion, local media reported.
According to Sri Lanka's daily newspaper, Daily Mirror, it was reported that the recovered money was handed over to the security units. Several dramatic videos have been doing the rounds on social media after Saturday's upheaval where thousands of protesters stormed his official residence in the capital of Colombo, forcing him to flee to an unknown location.
With the demand for president Gotabaya Rajapaksa's resignation, they stormed into the president's house, tore down security cordons placed by police, took a dip in the swimming pool and romped through his kitchen and home.
In one of the videos on social media, protesters are seen counting the currency notes that they claimed were unearthed from the President's official residence, said the media outlet.
Sri Lankan authorities said that the situation can only be understood once they probe it and come up with relevant facts.
Sri Lanka citizens chilling in their president’s residence. ?? pic.twitter.com/lwWDpyXdSG
— Dr. George ? (@GeorgeAnagli) July 9, 2022
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Shavendra Silva urged all citizens to give their support to the armed forces and the police in order to maintain peace in the country, as per the media portal.
He made these remarks in a special statement accompanied by Tri Force Commanders.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Minister of Tourism and Lands Harin Fernando and Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara said they have decided to step down from their ministerial portfolios with immediate effect.
Sri Lankan protesters also broke into Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's private residence and set it on fire, angered by the unprecedented economic crisis.
Several journalists were also attacked by the security forces after which more protestors gathered in the area, Daily Mirror reported.
Police resorted to water cannons to stop the enraged protestors.
The police also fired tear gas at the protesters but despite that, they entered PM's house and set the house on fire.
Meanwhile, Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) fire brigade said they were informed that the Prime Minister's private residence in Colombo was set on fire and its teams were unable to reach the location due to the unrest, according to Daily Mirror.
Wickremesinghe, who was appointed as prime minister in May, has announced that he will resign from his post in order to ensure the continuation of the government and the safety of all the citizens.
Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa also agreed to step down from his post on Wednesday.
(ANI)
FILE PHOTO: A general view shows British Steel's Scunthorpe plant, in Scunthorpe, northern England, Britain, March 31, 2025. REUTERS/Dominic Lipinski
The FBU is planning to introduce new internal policies and wants the TUC to take action as well. (Representational image: iStock)
FBU chief raises concern over rise in racist online posts by union members
THE FIRE Brigades Union (FBU) and other trade unions are increasingly concerned about a rise in racist and bigoted online comments by their own members and officials, according to Steve Wright, the FBU’s new general secretary, speaking to the Guardian.
Wright said internal inquiries have revealed dozens of cases involving members using racist slurs or stereotypes, often aimed at asylum seekers.
He said similar issues were reported in other unions, prompting a joint campaign to counter false narratives around immigration and race promoted by far-right groups online.
“People with far-right views are becoming more brazen in what they do on social media, and I’ve witnessed it with my own union around disciplinary cases and the rhetoric of some of our own members,” Wright said to the newspaper.
He added, “Some of our members and sometimes our reps have openly made comments which are racist and bigoted. In my time in the fire service, that has gone up.”
The FBU is planning to introduce new internal policies and wants the TUC to take action as well. A formal statement addressing far-right narratives will be launched at the union’s annual conference in Blackpool next month.
Wright cited the influence of social media and figures like Donald Trump and Nigel Farage as factors contributing to these incidents. “It feels like an itch that we’ve got to scratch,” he said.
The FBU barred a former official last year for allegedly endorsing racist content on X, including posts from Britain First and Tommy Robinson.
Wright also warned that the union could strike if the government moves to cut frontline fire services.