Thousands of people on Saturday stormed the Presidential Palace in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in protest against the high cost of living the country faces in over 70 years. Minutes before the invasion the Sri Lankan president fled the scene.

Invading Presidential Secretariat office #SriLanka #GoHomeGota #GoHomeRanil2022 pic.twitter.com/3ZSZRtAjCo

- CharithMania (@CharithMania) July 9, 2022

Images circulating in the international media show the exhausted people inside the palace presidency in a riot of mixed feelings and sensations. Scattered in crowds around the corners of the palace, people can be seen lying down and standing on the bed of the President of the Republic, Others in the president's lounge admiring works of art and the architecture and decoration itself, and others preferred to bathe in the president's pool.

Protesters take advantage of the President's swimming pool of #SriLanka after invading his residence #GoHomeGota #SriLankaProtests pic.twitter.com/hrH2bC9EUB

- Alni Farsi (@alni_farsi) July 9, 2022

The president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, is under protection by the military in a secret location.

Tens of thousands of people had earlier taken part in a demonstration to demand the resignation of Rajapaksa, who is considered responsible for the unprecedented economic crisis that has hit Sri Lanka and is causing rampant inflation, and severe shortages of fuel, electricity and food.

Massive protests at Gall Face #SriLanka #SriLankaProtests #SriLankaCrisis pic.twitter.com/1PeStjMmxV

- CharithMania (@CharithMania) July 9, 2022

On Friday, law enforcement installed barriers to try to discourage protesters from coming down the street, but this measure was lifted after opposition parties, human rights activists and the Bar Association threatened to sue the police chief.

The police barrier was completely ignored by the protesters, some of whom even forced the railway authorities to drive them by train to the capital, Colombo, to take part in the protests.

Following Gotabaya Rajapaksa's escape from his official residence in Colombo, Sri Lanka's Prime Minister called an emergency meeting the same day. Ranil Wickremesinghe called the government together to discuss a "quick resolution" to the ongoing political crisis.

The leader of the executive, considered next in line of succession if the President resigns, invited the leaders of the political parties to join the meeting, and also called for an emergency meeting of Parliament to discuss the crisis, his office said.