<div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Protesters remained in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence, his seaside office and the prime minister’s home, saying they would stay until the resignations are official.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;">&nbsp;The president’s whereabouts were unknown, but a statement from his office said he ordered the immediate distribution of a cooking gas consignment to the public, suggesting that he was still at work.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Soldiers were deployed around the city but troops simply watched from afar as crowds of people splashed in the pool of Rajapaksa’s sprawling residence, lounged on beds and took selfies of themselves on their cellphones to capture the moment.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;">&nbsp;The chief of defense staff, Shavendra Silva, called for public support to maintain law and order.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Occupants of the prime minister’s official residence cooked in an outdoor kitchen, played the tabletop game carrom and slept on sofas.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;">Ranjith Madduma Bandara, a top official in the main opposition United People’s Force, said that separate discussions were held with other parties and lawmakers who broke away from Rajapaksa’s ruling coalition and more meetings were planned.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;">&nbsp;It was unclear when an agreement might be reached. - AP</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 16px;">bnbd24/fas</span></div>