$50,000 In Crisp New Notes Found By Protesters At Lankan President’s Home

COLOMBO: Millions of rupees in cash left by President Sri Lanka when he fled his official residence was handed over to court on Monday after being handed over by protesters, the police said when succession battles took place.
The demonstrators found 17.85 million in Rupee Sri Lanka (around $ 50,000) in crispy new paper money but handed it over to the police after the takeover of the President’s Palace on Saturday.

“Cash is taken over by the police and will be produced in court today,” said a police spokesman.

The official source said a suitcase full of documents had also been abandoned at a magnificent house.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa took a place to live in the two century -century building after he was expelled from his private home on March 31 when the protesters tried to disturb him.

The 73 -year -old leader fled through the back door under the escort of the navy personnel and was taken by boat, heading northeast of the island, the official source told AFP.

Its existence is unknown on Monday morning, but the Office of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesingshe said Rajapaksa officially told him about his intention to resign, without determining the date.

73 -year -old Wickremesinghe will automatically become the Acting President in the event of a resignation of Rajapaksa, until the parliament chose a member of parliament to serve until November 2024.

But Wickremesinghe has announced his willingness to resign if the consensus is achieved to form unity government.

Rajapaksa promised on the weekend to resign on Wednesday and clean the road for “peace transition,” according to Parliamentary Speaker Mahinda Abeywardana.

The succession process can take between three days – the minimum time needed to hold parliament – and a maximum of 30 days is permitted based on law.

The main opposition of the Samagi Jana BalaVegaya Party (SJB) is gathered in talks with smaller political groups on Monday to get support for their leaders Sajith Premradasa.

A SJB official said they reached a temporary agreement with the dissidents at SLPP Rajapaksa to support Premadasa 55 years old, the son of a former president, for the top job, with a SLPP member to take the Premiership.

Former Rajapaksa loyalist, Dullas Alahapperuma, 63, a former media minister, was considered a new prime minister, a SJB legislator involved in the conversation to the AFP.

Five ministers resigned during the weekend and the Wickremesinghe office said the cabinet had agreed on Monday to resign en masse as the agreement was achieved in the “government of all parties”.

-The protester remains-

On Monday, tens of thousands were still occupying the Presidential Palace, the Presidential Secretariat in front of the sea and the official residence of the Prime Minister “Tree Tree”.

The request is very clear, people still ask for resignation (from Rajapaksa), and full resignation, in written confirmation,” said Dela Peiris protesters.

So hopefully we will get a resignation from the government including the Prime Minister and the President in the coming days.”

The protesters arrested the front office of Rajapaksa Sea shortly after controlling the palace on Saturday and had promised to stay until he really left the office.

Premier’s private house in Colombo was also burned on Saturday night.

The demonstrators had been camping outside the President’s office for more than three months demanding that he quit the country’s economic crisis that had never happened before.

Rajapaksa was accused of misinterpreting the economy to the point where the country ran out of foreign exchange to finance the most important imports, which led to great difficulties for 22 million populations.

Wickremesinghe, an opposition legislator, was made in May to try and lead the country out of his economic crisis – he was appointed for the position.

Sri Lanka Default on foreign debt of $ 51 billion in April and is in talks with the IMF for possible bailouts.

Sri Lanka has nearly exhausted its already scarce supplies of petrol. The government has ordered the closure of non-essential offices and schools to reduce commuting and save fuel.