Sri Lanka has been in a political vacuum since the president’s residence, one of his offices and the prime minister’s official residence, was stormed this weekend by people demanding that the two resign.
In the residence, 17.85 million rupees in new banknotes, corresponding to approximately 520,000 Swedish kronor, have been found by protesters who left the money to the police.
– The cash was taken over by the police and will be presented in court today, says a spokesperson for the police.
A portfolio of documents must also have been left behind.
On Monday, thousands of people will continue to occupy the residence and other public buildings they took over over the weekend, promising to remain there until the president resigns.
On Monday morning, it is not known where President Rajapaksa is, but according to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the president intends to resign on Wednesday in order for a “peaceful transition”.
If the president resigns, Wickremesinghe will automatically become acting president, but he too has offered to resign as soon as a new government is in place.
Rajapaksa is accused by the demonstrators of, among other things, having mismanaged the country’s economy and caused the crisis in the country.