Colombo: Hundreds of Sri Lankans on Monday raced inside a private gym at Rashtrapati Bhavan to use a vast array of exercise machines, lift weights and run on treadmills inside a facility that had hitherto been the exclusive domain of the country’s beleaguered president. .
For many traveling in congested trains and buses from outside the capital Colombo, this was the first time they had laid eyes on such a grand residence. The colonial-era structure was a staggering sight, with airy verandas, plush living rooms and spacious bedrooms, a garden swimming pool, and neatly landscaped lawns.
On Saturday, thousands of angry Sri Lankans descended on the residence in anger against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, which they blame for an unprecedented economic downturn that has strangled the lives of 22 million people in the country. He turned the barriers and then entered and occupied the palace residence, wrinkling the lawn.
Two days later, people flocked to it, flocking to it like a tourist attraction, marveling at the paintings inside and resting on high beds with pillows.
Ala Ralge Piyasena, a 67-year-old farmer who arrived by bus from outside Colombo, was stunned to see the President’s gym. “I never thought I’d get a chance to see these things,” he said, pointing at the equipment while trying to jump on the treadmill.
“Look at the pool and this gym. We can see how he enjoyed a life of luxury here while people were struggling outside. Our families are suffering without food. ,
The weekend saw the most dramatic escalation in months-long protests against the country’s worst economic crisis, with demonstrators not only making their way into the presidential palace but also storming the prime minister’s official residence and setting his private home on fire Gave.
The alleged incidents led to the two leaders agreeing to step down – Rajapaksa, who has not been seen or heard from in public since, said he would step down on Wednesday. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe He said that as soon as the opposition parties agree on a unity government, he will leave.
But the protesting leaders have said they will not leave the official buildings until the two actually resign.
For months, protesters have been camping outside Rajapaksa’s office, demanding that he leave the economy to severely mismanagement. Many have accused him and his powerful, dynastic family, which has ruled Sri Lanka For nearly two decades, corruption and policy blunders engulfed the island nation.
With the crisis leading to shortage of fuel, medicine, food and cooking gas, people’s patience is fast running out. Authorities have temporarily closed schools while the country relies on aid from India and other countries as it tries to negotiate a bailout with the International Monetary Fund. Wickremesinghe recently said that talks with India International Monetary Fund were complicated because Sri Lanka was now a bankrupt state.
Sri Lanka announced in April that it was suspending repayment of foreign loans due to a lack of foreign currency. Its total external debt is $51 billion, of which it will have to pay $28 billion by the end of 2027.
A severe fuel shortage has brought transport to a halt, forcing many people to use public buses, trains and even bicycles. Hundreds of people climbed onto the roofs of overcrowded trains to travel to Rashtrapati Bhavan.
At first, thousands of people stormed the residence in anger, waved the national flag and chanted “Gota go home!” Slogan. But ever since Rajapaksa announced that he would resign, many of those who arrived were delighted, strolling as spectators into the sprawling residence. In and out of the complex, hundreds of unarmed policemen patrolled the area – but that didn’t stop the crowd from coming.
The place was packed on Monday. Official residence was forbidden to the general public, and even invitees were only allowed in certain areas.
People peeped into every room and lay on the bed and took a lot of selfies. But no one dared to take a dip in the pool on Monday, as videos on social media showed crowds cheering over the weekend. Now, the once clear blue water had turned a muddy brown.
Outside in the lush gardens, groups gathered together with snacks, sipping soda and tea, as if on a picnic with friends and family.
“It belongs to the people,” declared Padma Gamage, a laborer traveling by bus from Galle on the country’s south-west tip. “Now I know how these leaders enjoyed luxury at our expense.”
However, not all were resting. Groups of volunteers banded together, cleaning broken chairs and glass from damaged windows, a sign of the anger that was flowing on Saturday. Trying to control the crowd, he said that some people are again vandalizing the property.
“If permission is given, they will also take doors and windows, so we are trying to control the crowd,” said 29-year-old Bulupathiage Suresh, who has been opposing Rajapaksa for over a month.
A Buddhist monk, Velihitiyave Dhammavimala, lamented the loss, saying that public money would now be spent on the renovation of the place. “If Rajapaksa had resigned earlier, this would not have happened,” he said.
Nearby, people waited in long lines to enter the presidential office, which has now been taken over by protesters who had been outside it for months. The line got longer by the day, almost resembling long queues, forcing people to wait for months to get fuel.
A few kilometers (miles) away, the prime minister’s official residence, known as the Temple Trees, was also uprooted by the protesters. Singing crowds gathered inside one man playing a piano, while others gathered around carrom board games or fell asleep on overstuffed couches. Outside, people used to cook rice and curries, giving them freebies to passersby.
Back at Rajapaksa’s official residence, Supun Dhammika, a student, erupts over the family’s legacy in the country.
“The fall of the Rashtrapati Niwas into the hands of the protesters and the public is a sign of the downfall of the Rajapaksa dynasty,” he said.
“If they think they can come back from this, it is only a dream. They have ruined the country and they have no right to seek votes from the people ever again.
For many traveling in congested trains and buses from outside the capital Colombo, this was the first time they had laid eyes on such a grand residence. The colonial-era structure was a staggering sight, with airy verandas, plush living rooms and spacious bedrooms, a garden swimming pool, and neatly landscaped lawns.
On Saturday, thousands of angry Sri Lankans descended on the residence in anger against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, which they blame for an unprecedented economic downturn that has strangled the lives of 22 million people in the country. He turned the barriers and then entered and occupied the palace residence, wrinkling the lawn.
Two days later, people flocked to it, flocking to it like a tourist attraction, marveling at the paintings inside and resting on high beds with pillows.
Ala Ralge Piyasena, a 67-year-old farmer who arrived by bus from outside Colombo, was stunned to see the President’s gym. “I never thought I’d get a chance to see these things,” he said, pointing at the equipment while trying to jump on the treadmill.
“Look at the pool and this gym. We can see how he enjoyed a life of luxury here while people were struggling outside. Our families are suffering without food. ,
The weekend saw the most dramatic escalation in months-long protests against the country’s worst economic crisis, with demonstrators not only making their way into the presidential palace but also storming the prime minister’s official residence and setting his private home on fire Gave.
The alleged incidents led to the two leaders agreeing to step down – Rajapaksa, who has not been seen or heard from in public since, said he would step down on Wednesday. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe He said that as soon as the opposition parties agree on a unity government, he will leave.
But the protesting leaders have said they will not leave the official buildings until the two actually resign.
For months, protesters have been camping outside Rajapaksa’s office, demanding that he leave the economy to severely mismanagement. Many have accused him and his powerful, dynastic family, which has ruled Sri Lanka For nearly two decades, corruption and policy blunders engulfed the island nation.
With the crisis leading to shortage of fuel, medicine, food and cooking gas, people’s patience is fast running out. Authorities have temporarily closed schools while the country relies on aid from India and other countries as it tries to negotiate a bailout with the International Monetary Fund. Wickremesinghe recently said that talks with India International Monetary Fund were complicated because Sri Lanka was now a bankrupt state.
Sri Lanka announced in April that it was suspending repayment of foreign loans due to a lack of foreign currency. Its total external debt is $51 billion, of which it will have to pay $28 billion by the end of 2027.
A severe fuel shortage has brought transport to a halt, forcing many people to use public buses, trains and even bicycles. Hundreds of people climbed onto the roofs of overcrowded trains to travel to Rashtrapati Bhavan.
At first, thousands of people stormed the residence in anger, waved the national flag and chanted “Gota go home!” Slogan. But ever since Rajapaksa announced that he would resign, many of those who arrived were delighted, strolling as spectators into the sprawling residence. In and out of the complex, hundreds of unarmed policemen patrolled the area – but that didn’t stop the crowd from coming.
The place was packed on Monday. Official residence was forbidden to the general public, and even invitees were only allowed in certain areas.
People peeped into every room and lay on the bed and took a lot of selfies. But no one dared to take a dip in the pool on Monday, as videos on social media showed crowds cheering over the weekend. Now, the once clear blue water had turned a muddy brown.
Outside in the lush gardens, groups gathered together with snacks, sipping soda and tea, as if on a picnic with friends and family.
“It belongs to the people,” declared Padma Gamage, a laborer traveling by bus from Galle on the country’s south-west tip. “Now I know how these leaders enjoyed luxury at our expense.”
However, not all were resting. Groups of volunteers banded together, cleaning broken chairs and glass from damaged windows, a sign of the anger that was flowing on Saturday. Trying to control the crowd, he said that some people are again vandalizing the property.
“If permission is given, they will also take doors and windows, so we are trying to control the crowd,” said 29-year-old Bulupathiage Suresh, who has been opposing Rajapaksa for over a month.
A Buddhist monk, Velihitiyave Dhammavimala, lamented the loss, saying that public money would now be spent on the renovation of the place. “If Rajapaksa had resigned earlier, this would not have happened,” he said.
Nearby, people waited in long lines to enter the presidential office, which has now been taken over by protesters who had been outside it for months. The line got longer by the day, almost resembling long queues, forcing people to wait for months to get fuel.
A few kilometers (miles) away, the prime minister’s official residence, known as the Temple Trees, was also uprooted by the protesters. Singing crowds gathered inside one man playing a piano, while others gathered around carrom board games or fell asleep on overstuffed couches. Outside, people used to cook rice and curries, giving them freebies to passersby.
Back at Rajapaksa’s official residence, Supun Dhammika, a student, erupts over the family’s legacy in the country.
“The fall of the Rashtrapati Niwas into the hands of the protesters and the public is a sign of the downfall of the Rajapaksa dynasty,” he said.
“If they think they can come back from this, it is only a dream. They have ruined the country and they have no right to seek votes from the people ever again.