Ranil Wickremesinghe, the prime minister of Sri Lanka, announced his resignation

• Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has resigned after protesters stormed the president’s residence and office.
• Demonstrators are angry over the country’s deepening sovereign debt crisis.
• Protesters breached security barricades before breaching President Rajapaksa’s official residence.

After just two months in office, Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe announced; his resignation after demonstrators stormed and besieged the president’s home; and office in response to mounting public outrage over the country’s escalating sovereign debt problem.

After an emergency conference of the country’s political party leaders to establish an interim; all-party government, Mr. Wickremesinghe, a seasoned politician serving his sixth term as prime minister, announced his resignation. He said on Twitter that by stepping down; he would “guarantee the continuance of the government, including the protection of all citizens.”

The political destiny of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa also remained uncertain.

Also Read

Prime Minister claims that Sri Lanka is bankrupt

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe says Sri Lanka is "bankrupt". The nation experiences...

One of the biggest anti-government protests in the nation this year took place on Saturday in Colombo; with protestors braving tear gas and water cannons as they reached the president’s office; while many were waving the national flag; and wearing helmets. Since March, there have been nearly daily; peaceful protests outside the office.

Despite only taking over as prime minister in May when Mahinda Rajapaksa; the president’s brother, resigned, Mr. Wickremesinghe had already been the target; of popular demands for his resignation.

Also Read

After weeks of unrest, Sri Lanka’s prime minister resigns

Protestors had earlier battled with supporters of Mahinda Rajapaksa, whose ruling family...