Calm has returned to the streets of Colombo, Sri Lanka’s commercial capital, with protesters expressing their joy that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has agreed to step down after the storming of his home amid anger over the collapse of the country’s economy, with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe also agreeing to retire. to give way to an all-party government.

In this context, Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abiwardena said in a statement that Rajapaksa has decided to step down next Wednesday, July 13, in order to ensure a peaceful transition of power. Wickremesinghe’s office reported that “the prime minister has agreed to resign.”

The US authorities today urged Sri Lanka’s future leaders to act quickly to restore economic stability and quell popular discontent, warning of attacks on protesters and journalists while criticizing the violence as crowds storm the presidential residence.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund, which is in talks with the government of Sri Lanka over a possible $3 billion bailout plan, said today that it is “monitoring the situation closely and hopes to find a solution to the current situation that will allow us to resume our dialogue on its support program.” . “International Monetary Fund”. He added that he was “deeply concerned about the impact of the economic crisis on people.”

Today, protesters continued to roam the presidential residence, parts of which were destroyed. Local news channels showed huge fire and smoke rising from his home in an affluent suburb of Colombo, and neither the President nor the Prime Minister was present when the people attacked their homes.

Protesters, many wearing Sri Lankan flags, stormed the colonial-era president’s residence on Friday, while others set fire to the prime minister’s home.