Sri Lanka’s president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has fled the country, the BBC has confirmed, following mass protests over the island’s economic crisis.
The president had been in hiding after crowds stormed his palace on Saturday.
His brother, former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, has also left the crisis-hit country, sources have told the BBC.
Protesters had demanded the president and his prime minister go or face much bigger demonstrations.
Mr Rajapaksa’s prime minister is also expected to go.
The president earlier pledged to resign on Wednesday amid mass protests over the island’s worsening economic crisis.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s younger brother was prevented from leaving the country 24 hours earlier but is now said to be heading to the US.
Sri Lankans blame President Rajapaksa’s administration for their worst economic crisis in decades. For months they have been struggling with daily power cuts and shortages of basics like fuel, food and medicines.
Source: BBC
