High tensions in Sri Lanka.
The president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, fled his official residence in Colombo on Saturday a few minutes before it was stormed by demonstrators demanding his resignation, a defense source told AFP.
"The president has been escorted to safety," the source said.
“He is still the president, he is protected by a military unit,” she added.
Local television channels showed images of hundreds of people climbing the gates of the presidential palace in the heart of the capital.
Widely ignored curfew
Tens of thousands of people had earlier taken part in a demonstration to demand the resignation of Mr. Rajapaksa, held responsible for the unprecedented economic crisis which is hitting Sri Lanka and causing galloping inflation and serious shortages of fuel, electricity and of food.
Protesters demanding the departure of the president.
REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte
Security forces had imposed a curfew on Friday to try to discourage protesters from taking to the streets, but the measure was lifted after opposition parties, human rights activists and the country's bar association threatened to sue the chief of police.
The curfew had been largely ignored by protesters anyway, some of whom even forced railway authorities to take them by train to Colombo on Saturday to take part in the rally, officials told AFP.