Sri Lankan president vows resignation with country gripped by turmoil, mass protests

Protesters in Sri Lanka on Saturday stormed multiple government buildings, pushing through security barriers and breaching even the president's house in demonstration against the country’s ongoing economic crisis. 

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa vowed that he would resign next week as tens of thousands of protesters flooded public places in the capital city of Colombo, with rioters reportedly even setting fire to the prime minister's residence. 

The violent protests come amid a brutal economic crisis in the country, with residents struggling to buy necessities such as food and fuel. 

Food prices have been skyrocketing there in recent weeks, while schools have been cancelled and even essential services like hospitals have been circumscribed due to fuel shortages and supply chain crises. 

Reports of hours-long lines to buy fuel and other necessities have emerged from the country, which is also also experiencing a medicine shortage.