this is bbc news. welcome if you re watching here in the uk or around the globe. i m gareth barlow. our top stories: sri lanka s president, gotabaya rajapaska, will step down after protesters stormed the palace and set fire to the prime minister s house. we report from the scene in colombo these protesters, they want a new beginning for sri lanka, a new beginning for sri lanka, a new political culture so they will not face the similar economic crisis in the country. as japan grieves for the former prime minister shinzo abe, voting begins in elections for the upper house of parliament. uk chancellor nadim zahawi has added his name to the conservative leadership contest, joining a field of eight, including sajid javid and jeremy hunt.