In photos: Sri Lanka declares state of emergency as President Gotabaya Rajapaksa flees the country
Sri Lanka’s president fled the country without stepping down Wednesday, plunging a country already reeling from economic chaos into more political turmoil. Protesters demanding a change in leadership then trained their ire on the prime minister and stormed his office.
Protestor wearing a gas mask runs to throw a tear gas canister fired by army personnel during a protest seeking the ouster of Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe amidst the ongoing economic crisis in Colombo, Sri Lanka.Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty Images
Army personnel use tear gas to disperse demonstrators during an anti-government protest outside the office of Sri Lanka's prime minister in Colombo.ARUN SANKAR/AFP/Getty Images
A protestor throws back a tear gas canister fired by army personnel during a protest seeking the ouster of Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo, Sri Lanka.Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty Images
Protesters storm the Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office, demanding he resign after president Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country amid economic crisis in Colombo, Sri Lanka.Eranga Jayawardena/The Associated Press
Demonstrators gather inside the office building of Sri Lanka's prime minister during an anti-government protest in Colombo.ARUN SANKAR/AFP/Getty Images
Demonstrators sit around a meetings table inside the office building of Sri Lanka's prime minister during an anti-government protest in Colombo.ARUN SANKAR/AFP/Getty Images
Army personnel stand guard as demonstrators (unseen) gather inside the office building of Sri Lanka's prime minister during an anti-government protest in Colombo.ARUN SANKAR/AFP/Getty Images
Protesters shout slogans before storming the Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office, demanding he resign after president Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country amid economic crisis in Colombo, Sri Lanka.Rafiq Maqbool/The Associated Press
Demonstrators wait to enter into Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe's office during a protest demanding for his resignation, after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled, amid the country's economic crisis, in Colombo, Sri Lanka.DINUKA LIYANAWATTE/Reuters
Protestors run for cover as police use tear gas to disperse them outside the Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office premises, amid the country's economic crisis, during a protest in Colombo, Sri Lanka.ADNAN ABIDI/Reuters
A large group of protesters storm the Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office, demanding he resign after president Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country amid economic crisis in Colombo, Sri Lanka.Rafiq Maqbool/The Associated Press
People wave flags and chant slogans after taking control of the Prime Ministers office compound during a protest seeking the ouster of Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe amidst the ongoing economic crisis in Colombo, Sri Lanka.Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty Images
Military personnel wear gas masks during a protest by people seeking the ouster of Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe amidst the ongoing economic crisis in Colombo, Sri Lanka.Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty Images
Protestors shout slogans during a protest outside Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's office premises, amid the country's economic crisis, in Colombo, Sri Lanka.ADNAN ABIDI/Reuters