Protesters storm the President’s House in Sri Lanka

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

A video broadcast on Sri Lankan television and social media showed protesters entering the President’s House, Rajapaksa’s office and residence in the commercial capital, after breaking through security cordons set up by police.

Footage shows protesters inside the building and waving banners from the balcony, as well as swimming in the residence’s pool.

Rajapaksa is not at the site and has been moved to another location, security officials told . It is unclear how many security personnel are present at the scene.

Demonstrators protest inside Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in this screenshot obtained from a social media video on July 9, 2022.

At least 31 people, including two policemen, were injured in the protests and are receiving treatment, according to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL). Two of the injured are in critical condition, according to police.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has called an emergency meeting of party leaders to discuss the current situation and come up with a resolution, his office said on Saturday.

He also asked the president of the parliament to summon the parliamentarians.

The South Asian nation of 22 million is suffering its worst financial crisis in recent history, leaving millions struggling to buy food, medicine and fuel.

A police curfew previously imposed on several police divisions in Sri Lanka’s western province was lifted on Saturday. Several politicians and the Sri Lanka Bar Association referred to the curfew as “illegal” and said there were no instances of violence to justify imposing the measure.

Protesters enter the swimming pool at the presidential house in Sri Lanka.

Tens of thousands have taken to the streets in recent months, calling for the country’s leaders to resign over accusations of economic mismanagement.

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

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

Schools have been suspended and fuel has been limited to essential services. Patients are unable to travel to hospitals due to fuel shortages and food prices are skyrocketing.

Protesters flee tear gas used by police during a protest demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa near the president’s residence in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Saturday.

Trains have been reduced in frequency, forcing commuters to squeeze into compartments and even sit precariously on top of them as they commute to work.

Wickremesinghe said that the country had started talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to revive the country’s economy.

This week, he told parliament that talks with the IMF were “difficult” as they entered the discussion as a “bankrupt” country, rather than a developing one.

‘s Irene Nasser contributed reporting.