Sri Lanka crisis: Found cash hoard in President Rajapaksa's home, say protesters

Protesters who stormed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's house on Saturday amid the country's worst economic crisis claimed to have recovered a large sum of money from the mansion, local media reported.

According to Sri Lanka's daily newspaper, Daily Mirror, it was reported that the recovered money was handed over to the security units.

Several dramatic videos have been doing the rounds on social media after Saturday's upheaval where thousands of protesters stormed his official residence in the capital of Colombo, forcing him to flee to an unknown location.

With the demand for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's resignation, they stormed into the President's house, tore down security cordons placed by police, took a dip in the swimming pool and romped through his kitchen and home.

In one video on social media, protesters are seen counting the currency notes that they claimed were unearthed from the President's official residence, said the media outlet.

Sri Lankan authorities said that the situation can only be understood once they probe it and develop relevant facts.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Shavendra Silva urged all citizens to support the armed forces and the police to maintain peace in the country. He made these remarks in a special statement accompanied by Tri Force Commanders.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Minister of Tourism and Lands Harin Fernando and Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara said they have decided to step down from their ministerial portfolios with immediate effect.

Sri Lankan protesters also broke into Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's private residence and set it on fire, angered by the unprecedented economic crisis.

Several journalists were also attacked by the security forces, after which more protestors gathered in the area, Daily Mirror reported.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa also agreed to step down from his post on Wednesday.