These are remarkable times in Sri Lanka. After a day of violence and fury, two of the country's top leaders agreed to resign.
The news caused jubilation at Colombo's main protest site. Many parts of the city were rocked by firecrackers.
I am at Galle Face protest site. Many protesters have begun returning home, but thousands remain. Many have been celebrating by singing and playing instruments.
It was a remarkable turnaround. A photo of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa smiling in parliament was shared widely on social media.
Many were angry at the men's actions, saying they seemed happy while millions struggled to eat three meals per day. A week is not a long time for politics.
During months of unrest, President Rajapaksa's resignation was the main demand of protesters. This is because inflation has risen and authorities are unable to import fuel, food, and medicine.
Sri Lanka has a severe shortage of foreign currency and has requested an emergency loan from the International Monetary Fund.
I was able to witness President Rajapaksa in his peak power. He was a fearless, ruthless man. Journalists would not want to be at the receiving end his angry outbursts.
Many of the most vocal critics of the regime were severely beaten or disappeared. However, the Rajapaksas, the president and his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa, have always denied any connection to violence or disappearances.
The dramatic act of President Rajapaksa fleeing from his home to safety is unprecedented. After leading the military in the defeat of separatist Tamil Tigers, the man enjoyed the support and cooperation of the majority Sinhala Buddhist community.
The Rajapaksa brothers were once hailed as war heroes. They now face the shame of being overthrown, in a dramatic twist.
