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epa10071031 A group of protesters hold a media briefing before they vacate the Prime Minister's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 14 July 2022 after the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa from the presidency was sent to the parliament speaker. Thousands of protesters broke through police barricades and stormed in to the President Palace, President office, Prime Minister's Residency and Prime Minister's office on 09 July. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan authorities declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew in the Western Province of the country on 13 July. Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has authorised the prime minister Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to carry out presidential duties after the president fled to the Maldives amid months of protests against the economic crisis. EPA/CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE