IN PICS | Sri Lankan protesters storm President's residence, police use tear gas, water cannons to disperse them

On July 9, Sri Lankan protesters stormed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's residence and nearby office. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of the capital Colombo in the biggest demonstration yet to vent their fury against a leader they hold responsible for the island nation's worst economic crisis.

On July 9, Sri Lankan protesters stormed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's residence and nearby office. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of the capital Colombo in the biggest demonstration yet to vent their fury against a leader they hold resp 

Protesters carrying Sri Lankan flags gathered outside the president's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (Photo | AP)

Sri Lankan Police use water cannons and tear gas to disperse the protesters. (Photo | AP)

A Sri Lankan man throws back a tear gas shell after it was fired by police to disperse the protesters. (Photo | AP)

Enraged Sri Lankan protesters react as police fire tear gas to disperse them. (Photo | AP)

A Sri Lankan man covers his face after a tear gas shell is fired by police on an attempt to disperse the protesters near him. (Photo | AP)

Protesters react as a tear gas shell fired by police lands next to them. (Photo | AP)

Protesters gather inside the premises of the Sri Lankan president's official residence on July 9. (Photo | AP)