Live blog: thousands head for Colombo for massive protest today

10:29 pm: President had informed me that he will resign on July 13 since he wanted to ensure a smooth transition of power to a new government. -Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene

10:24 pm President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has informed that he will resign from the office of Executive Presidency on July 13- Office of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene.

10:15 pm: At least seven journalists attached to News 1st were attacked by the Police and Special Task Force near the private residence of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo 7 this evening, the media organization said.

9:36 pm: Fire Brigade trucks are still unable to reach the scene due to the massive number of protesters on the road.

9:23 pm: Two trucks from Fire Brigade rushed to the PM's private residence after it was set on fire by protesters.

9:17 pm: Protesters have broken into the private residence of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and have set it on fire.- PM Office

9:04 pm: Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena wrote to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on the decisions taken at the all Party Leaders meeting this evening where consensus was reached that both President and Prime Minister should resign from their respective offices immediately.

8:10pm: Massive crowds heading towards flower road where protestors and journalists have been attacked by security forces.

8:08 pm: Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed grave regret over the assault on journalists who are covering the ongoing protests, by security personnel. “Freedom of media is paramount to Democracy in Sri Lanka.  Prime Minister requests both the security forces and the protesters to act with restraint to prevent any violence and ensure the safety of the public,”- PM Office

8:07 pm: More protesters are gathering in front of the Prime Minister’s private residence at Colombo 7 following the attack on media personnel. Tear gas was fired once again at protesters.

7:44 pm: News First said four of their News team staff came under attack by armed personnel outside PM Ranil Wickremesinghe’s residence in Colombo 7. All of them are admitted to the hospital. 

7:40 pm: Minister Bandula Gunawardena announced that he will step down from his ministerial portfolio and renounce his Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) membership as well. 

7:38 pm: Armed personnel guarding outside PM Ranil Wickremesinghe’s private residence in Colombo 7 assaulted a News First journalist while he was reporting and despite identifying himself as a journalist. 

7:27 pm: Protesters who made their way into Temple Trees- the official residence of the Prime Minister are planning to stay the night until both President and PM resign from their posts. Groups commenced camping out outside the premises of the residence. 

7:18 pm: Police have fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters who gathered in front of the private residence of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe located at 5th lane, Colombo 7.

6:06 pm: At least 55 persons including three with gunshot wounds admitted to Colombo National Hospital, hospital sources said. One of them, who was subjected to surgery is in critical condition.

5:55 pm: Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has told the Party Leaders that he is willing to resign as Prime Minister and make way for an all-Party Government to take over.

He said he is taking this decision in view of the fact that island-wide fuel distribution is due to recommence this week, the World Food Program Director is due to visit the country this week and the Debt Sustainability report for the IMF is due to be finalised shortly. 

So as to ensure safety of the citizens, he is agreeable to this recommendation by the Opposition Party Leaders.- PM Office

5:42 pm: A protest is currently underway in front of the private residence of PM Ranil Wickremesinghe at 5th lane, Colombo demanding his immediate resignation. 

5:35 pm: SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem clarified further that on the consensus to ask PM and President to resign, no consensus was reached as PM disagreed. “Speaker however decided to write to President and PM to resign as per overwhelming request,”

5:15 pm: At Speaker’s Residence urgent Party Leader’s meeting. Several other Leaders including PM, AKD and Sumanthiran participated via zoom. The decision to ask both President and PM to resign. Speaker to take over as temporary President according to the constitution. Party Leaders to immediately agree on an all-party government. This has a few glitches and several alternatives are being discussed.- SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem via Twitter

4:56 pm: As the Party Leaders' meeting continues, I had spoken representing the CWC where I had expressed that the President should announce his resignation and without delay, the party leaders' must decide on an all-party govt. Similar views being shared across the table.- CWC leader Senthil Thondaman

4:51 pm: Protesters at Galle Face Green made their way into Temple Trees as well after taking control of the Presidential Secretariat and President's House earlier today.

4:32 pm: At the party leaders' meeting convened by Speaker this evening, party leaders decided to request President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to step down immediately. 

4:16 pm: The situation in Sri Lanka is alarming. The political & economic challenges will not be solved by violence. Peaceful protests must be protected & all those on the streets as well as security & police forces must show restraint. By working together solutions can be found.- UK Minister of State Foreign Commonwealth & Development Affairs Lord (Tariq)Ahmad of Wimbledon 

4:11 pm: Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has held initial discussions with several party leaders. All Party leaders are scheduled to meet shortly at a meeting organised by the Speaker of Parliament to decide on the next steps to be taken to resolve the situation in the country.- PM Office

3:02 pm: People's power has spoken. Congratulations to the peaceful protests! The country cannot descend into anarchy. All political parties must get together with people to discuss the way forward. The president and the government must resign to make way for a collective solution!- Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya

2:59 pm: I urge the authorities to safeguard the rights and lives of the people who protest demanding their rights. The longest surviving democracy in Asia should be continued in a democratic manner.- Minister Manusha Nanayakkara

2:58 pm: Bar Association of Sri Lanka calls upon President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to consider whether he can continue to fulfil his obligations and duties as the President of Sri Lanka any longer in the wake of protestors occupying the Presidential Secretariat and President's House. 

2:46 pm: Protesters who entered President’s House Fort were seen accessing Presidential conference rooms and hung placards that called for the resignation of President Rajapaksa. Protesters also decided to stay the night till the official resignation of the President. 

2:37 pm: Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena called for a Party Leaders meeting at 4.00 pm today.- TPA leader Mano Ganesan 

2:31 pm: A group of SLPP Parliamentarians wrote to President requesting him to resign immediately in order to pave way for a new President who commands the majority support in Parliament to be appointed. 

1:57 pm: At least 33 persons have been admitted to hospital with injuries from the protests so far- Police

1:53 pm: Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has summoned an emergency Party Leaders meeting to discuss the situation and come to a swift resolution. He is also requesting the Speaker to summon Parliament.

1:31 pm: President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled as protesters surrounded his residence: AFP reported quoting a defence source.

1:29 pm: Protesters at the Galle Face Green have taken control of the Presidential Secretariat and President’s House, Fort. 

1:26 pm: Lawyers attached to Moratuwa Bar Union also staged a protest and joined with the protesters who are on their way to Galle Face Green.

1:20 pm: Armed personnel at the Galle Face protest used live ammunition by shooting in the air to control the protesters. An army officer at the scene also confirmed.

1:14 pm: Protesters from across the country are arriving at Fort Railway station to take part in the protest currently underway at Galle Face Green.

1.05 pm: Protesters entered the President’s House, Fort, after breaching police barricades. 

12:35 pm: Two water cannon trucks that were parked in front of Kingsbury hotel have been taken over by protestors. People at the site said that the personnel manning them were overpowered and ran.

12:31 pm: Protesters reached the outside gate of the President’s House after breaching police barricades. Protesters are trying to enter the premises. 

12:23 pm: At least seven individuals including a police officer admitted to Colombo National Hospital with injuries. 

12:19 pm: Tear gas fired outside Galadari and Kingsbury hotels as protesters are trying to breach barricades to enter Presidential Secretariat. 

12:16 pm: As Sri Lanka- Australia second test play is underway at Galle, protesters are marching outside Galle International Stadium.

12:10 pm: Protesters are entering the Galadari Hotel due to severe tear gas firing from riot police. 

12:08 pm: A bicycle parade was staged in Jaffna demanding President Rajapaksa resign immediately. Staff attached to the University of Jaffna also joined.

11:57 am: A massive protest is currently underway in Galle.

11:54 am: Tear gas was fired on crowds protesting in front of the Presidential Secretariat as more protesters are joining in massive numbers.

11:40 am: Protestors are being boxed in and tear-gassed as both entrances to the road are blocked off. Tear Gas was also fired at protestors on Lotus road. 

11:30 am: Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka joined the marching protestors at Lotus road.

11:24 am: Protest march organized by FUTA heading towards Galle Face Green from Kollupitiya.

11:18 am: Protesters are making their way towards Galle Face Green from various parts of Colombo. Police once again used tear gas and water cannons at protesters marching from Chatham street.

10:41 am: Protestors are entering the Galle Fort.

10:29 am: Tear gas fired on protesters at Chatham Street. 

10:24 am: Protesters are trying to push their way through a barricade at Chatham Street

10:22 am: Heavy traffic on Galle road due to protest marches coming from various parts of the country through bylanes.

10:18 am: People are gathering from various places towards Galle Road and heading towards Galle Face Green. Small groups are also flocking in from both sides of the road in support of the protest march. 

10.13 am: A group of lawyers are staging a protest near Hulftsdorp. The lawyers are later due to join the main protest near President's House.

10.10 am: Security also stepped up in many parts of Colombo with more military personnel being deployed. A large number of security personnel are being moved into the areas around President's House. The video footage from Dehiwela.

(10.00 am) Thousands of protesters from various parts of the country are heading towards the capital Colombo to stage a massive protest demanding the government led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigns from office immediately.

Protesters are travelling to Colombo via various modes of transport such as lorries, bicycles and even walking due to the ongoing fuel shortage. 

In Kandy, a group who came to get trains were disappointed when they were told trains were not operating this morning. They protested and later were told the train will operate. A similar incident was reported in Matara as well.

Train and bus services also resumed operations shortly after the lifting of the curfew. Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) trade unions have also called off the strike following discussions and buses will function as usual today. 

Police issued a statement this morning saying that the ‘police curfew’ which was imposed last night in certain parts of the country is lifted from 6 am today. 

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka in a statement said last night that the imposition arbitrarily of a police curfew by the IGP is illegal. "The order violates the basic human rights of the people by unlawfully restricting their right to movement," Justice Rohini Marasinghe, Retired Supreme Court Judge and HRCSL Chair, said. (Pix by Akila Jayawardena)