Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena stated that Rajapaksa has informed him that he will step down as President on July 13 during a press briefing this evening, as per Sri Lankan news source Newswire.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa announced his resignation on Saturday, hours after tens of thousands of demonstrators surrounded the official residence in the nation’s capital.
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena stated that Rajapaksa has informed him that he will step down as president on July 13 during a media briefing today evening, according to Sri Lankan news source Newswire.
The change happened after Ranil Wickremesinghe, the prime minister of Sri Lanka, announced his resignation.
Earlier, according to the Daily Mirror, Abeywardene wrote to the President telling him to resign from his position immediately and call a special session of Parliament to elect an acting president in seven days.
Additionally, he has stated that the new administration must be constituted with a new prime minister, and then, after a predetermined amount of time, general elections should be held.
Dramatic footage from outside Rajapakse’s home on Saturday showed a wave of protesters surging into the compound, ripping down police-erected security barriers, swimming in the pool, and prancing throughout his kitchen and house.
According to CNN’s citation of security authorities, Gotabaya Rajapakse was relocated and was not present at the scene.
Later that day, outraged by the extraordinary economic crisis, protestors broke into Wickremesinghe’s private home and burned it on fire.
Wickremesinghe, who was named former prime in May, has stated he will step down from his position to maintain the government and protect everyone’s safety.
Tweeting, Wickremesinghe stated: “I accept the best advice made today by the Party Leaders to make way for an All-Party Government to guarantee the continuance of the Government, including the safety of all citizens. I will step down as prime minister to make this easier.”
Earlier, Sri Lankan Prime Minister said in a statement that he took this decision since island-wide fuel distribution is due to recommence this week, the World Food Program Director is due to visit the country this week and the Debt Sustainability report for the IMF is due to be finalised shortly.
“All party interim government to be appointed in the next few days,“Sri Lankan MP Harsha de Silva said.
He added that the leaders had also decided that the parliament will elect the MP to serve out the remaining time as president.
The transitional administration will be made up of members from all parties, he stressed.
An urgent meeting of Party Leaders was called earlier by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to discuss the issue and find a quick solution.
