Cartoon by Saad Almuhannadi

What's next for Sri Lanka as angry protesters occupy their leaders' luxury houses?

CNN: Angry protesters who stormed the official residences of Sri Lanka's President and Prime Minister succeeded in forcing them to resign on the weekend as the country lurches further into crisis.

However, the protesters say they won't leave the luxury houses until both leaders have vacated their roles. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is expected to step down on Wednesday, while Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe tweeted his resignation Saturday but didn't confirm his date of departure.

The resignations mark a major win for protesters, but the future of the country's 22 million people is uncertain as they struggle to buy basic goods, fuel and medicine.

Where is the protest movement at now?

Over the weekend tens of thousands of protesters massed outside the President's office and residence before breaking through security cordons.

Striking images shared on social media show them singing protest songs and chanting slogans calling for Rajapaksa to resign. Images showed groups of protesters setting up barbecue pits to grill and cook food.

But the most dramatic footage showed protesters swimming in the President's private pool.

Later on Saturday, protesters targeted Wickremesinghe's house, setting fire to his private residence on Fifth Lane, an affluent neighborhood in the capital. Live video seen by CNN showed the building engulfed in flames as crowds gathered at the scene and cheered.

The leaders were not at their residences when the buildings were breached and were moved to secure locations before the attacks, according to security officials.

At least 55 people were injured in the protests, according to local medics on Saturday, who said that the figure included a lawmaker from eastern Sri Lanka and three people with gunshot wounds. Videos circulated on social media suggesting that soldiers shot at protesters outside the President's residence, but the army denied opening fire.

Protests have been escalating in Sri Lanka since March, when public anger erupted on the streets over rising food costs, fuel shortages and electricity cuts as the country struggled to make debt repayments.

Police fire water and tear gas to disperse protesters gathering in a street leading to the President's official residence on July 9.

Police fire water and tear gas to disperse protesters gathering in a street leading to the President's official residence on July 9.

What's happening to the government?

Rajapaksa will officially step down on July 13, officials said, following an emergency meeting called by parliament speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

Wickremesinghe posted on Twitter that he was stepping down "to ensure the continuation of the government including the safety of all citizens" but didn't name a date.

Four other ministers also stepped down on the weekend -- the latest in an exodus of senior officials. On April 3, the Sri Lankan government's entire cabinet was effectively dissolved due to mass resignations by top ministers.

Some 26 cabinet ministers stepped down that weekend, including the central bank governor as well as the President's nephew, who criticized an apparent social media blackout as something he would "never condone."

Analysts and observers now say that parliament speaker Abeywardena will likely assume temporary charge of the country until the next president is elected by lawmakers to replace Rajapaksa and complete the rest of his term, due to end in 2024>>>