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Rashmi Kavindhya tells the BBC that she never dreamed in her life that she would step inside the Sri Lankan president’s official residence in Colombo.
A day after massive mobs forced their way into one of the most heavily guarded buildings in the country, thousands of people like Ms Kavindhya have flocked to see the compound.
The presidential residence features several verandas, meeting rooms and living areas, a swimming pool and a large lawn. Saturday’s dramatic events forced President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee.
“Look at the wealth of this country“, said Mrs. Kavindhya, who went with her four children to the president’s residence.
“We live in a village and our house is small, this building belongs to the people and was built with the people’s money.”
Thousands of men, women and children were trying to enter the residence and some of the protest organizers were controlling the crowd.
Sri Lankan police and special forces stood in a corner and watched in silence.
As people wandered from room to room, everyone wanted to capture the moment by taking selfies, in front of tables and paintings.
“It’s a dream come true for me to see a palace like this”said AL Premawardene who works at a children’s amusement park in the town of Ganeamulla.
“We are waiting in long queues for kerosene, gas and food, but the Rajapaksas are leading a different life.”
Protest leaders have already said they will not leave the official residences of President Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe until they are finally out of office.
Families were standing around admiring the pool filled with water. Onlookers clapped and shouted as a young man jumped into the water where protesters had been filmed swimming on Saturday.
“I feel sad”said Nirosha Sudarshini Hutchinson, who was visiting the compound with her two teenage daughters.
“A man who was democratically elected president had to leave in such a shameful way. Now we are ashamed to vote for him. People want them to return the money they stole from the country.”
Outside the mansion, on the sprawling manicured lawn, hundreds of people, Buddhists, Hindus and Christians, were lounging around. A family was picnicking on the green lawn where they would never have been allowed to sit 24 hours earlier.
Sri Lankans feel their months-long protest has finally led to the ouster of their country’s leaders, whom they blame for economic woes.
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