The official residence of the President of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has been abandoned.
On Saturday, thousands of people took part in a demonstration outside his home in an effort to continue calling for his resignation.
The President was hastily taken to the Army headquarters a few hours before the invasion began.
The demonstrators broke through the barricades set up by the police, and they were joined by members of the Sri Lankan military.
The National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) has confirmed that dozens of people, including two police officers, have been injured and are currently receiving treatment.
Citizens have been vocal about their dissatisfaction with poverty, the rising cost of living, and how President Rajapaksa is handling the current economic crisis.
People are having trouble finding work, which makes it difficult for them to pay their rent, purchase food and medicine, and pay for other necessities such as petroleum products.
Videos and photos showing protesters breaking in and swimming in the President’s house have emerged.
Some were cooking food in the kitchen as others moved about for a tour of the presidential residence.
With a population of 22 million, the South Asian nation faces its worst financial crisis in decades.
At least 16 members of parliament from Rajapaksa’s party Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna have asked him to resign.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has summoned an emergency meeting of party leaders.
Video:
Colombo, Sri Lanka right now. The Presidential Palace has been stormed, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is said to have fled. Unbelievable scenes. Live reports on @IndiaToday: https://t.co/p6JV6FzCub pic.twitter.com/8zlJdBfN2P
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) July 9, 2022