Sri Lanka's colonial-era presidential palace, a symbol of power for more than 200 years, was transformed on Sunday into a headquarters that embodies the "power of the people" after the escape of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Thousands of men, women and children flocked to the huge presidential complex and waited their turn to sit in the president's chair upstairs, while children and their parents played on the grand piano downstairs.

In the palace garden called "Gorden Garden", families ate lunch, while clean-shaven Buddhist monks contemplated the marble floor and the central air conditioning system.

There was also a cheerful atmosphere as families rushing to the palace posed for pictures in front of expensive paintings or artwork still on display, while others enjoyed a cool pool or chose to sleep in the palace's extensive gardens or on one of its elegant sofas.

The same atmosphere of joy and happiness also prevailed at the Prime Minister's residence, in which the sit-in of the protesters continues until the latter's resignation from his post.

The following is a sample of photos and videos that reflect the diaries of the protesters inside the President's Palace and at the Prime Minister's Residence:

Lying in the gardens of the prime minister's residence is one of the options (Reuters)

It is also okay to have some fun inside the palace's many rooms (Reuters)

Some preferred to enjoy a cool swimming pool (Reuters)

While others preferred to exercise to relieve tension (Reuters)

As for the exhausted, they had no choice but to sleep (Reuters)

To commemorate the moment, it is okay to take some pictures for the memory (Reuters)

And when the hunger is intense, it is inevitable to cook some food (Reuters)

Children also have their say inside the palace (Reuters)

As for the bravest demonstrators, they climbed the Prime Minister's building in defense of "the authority of the people" (Reuters)

What's happening In-side the Prime Minister's official house – Temple Trees!

#lka #srilanka #colombo pic.twitter.com/Mk7boe8g4i

— RJ Saksi™ (Media Professional) (@saksivarnan) July 10, 2022

Video – #WWE Wrestling on Prime Minister's bed at Temple Trees 😃#LKA #SriLanka #SriLankaCrisis #SriLankaProtests pic.twitter.com/5f2zE9uqLD

— Sri Lanka Tweet 🇱🇰 💉 (@SriLankaTweet) July 10, 2022

Protesters seen having a swim at the President's house in Srilanka🤦😆#SriLanka #SriLankaCrisis pic.twitter.com/oSBxH70KiS

— HARASH 🇮🇳 (@HarashOfficial) July 9, 2022