Speaker Confirms President Rajapaksa’s Resignation, MPs To Meet Tomorrow To Elect New Prez

New Delhi: Sri Lankan Parliamentary Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywarden on Friday confirmed that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigned from his put up and it has additionally been accepted. “Gotabaya has legally resigned” with impact from Thursday, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana advised reporters, as quoted by information company PTI. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will act as President till a brand new President is elected, he knowledgeable.

The speaker urged the general public to permit a peaceable setting for all MPs to participate within the course of which ought to end inside seven days.

#WATCH | Sure resignation has been accepted, authorized course of will observe…Members will likely be invited tomorrow (to elect a President): Sri Lanka Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywarden confirms President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation pic.twitter.com/jLomNW64Cq

— ANI (@ANI) July 15, 2022

In keeping with him, the parliamentary embers will likely be invited on Saturday to elect the brand new President.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigned as Sri Lankan President on Thursday after touchdown in Singapore from the Maldives. “The Speaker of Sri Lanka’s Parliament has obtained President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation letter,” Sri Lankan Speaker’s workplace mentioned on Thursday.

Rajapaksa landed in Singapore from the Maldives after he fled Sri Lanka when hundreds of protesters stormed his official residence final week, blaming him for the unprecedented financial disaster. Rajapaksa, who enjoys immunity from prosecution whereas he’s president, fled the island nation with out resigning to keep away from the opportunity of arrest by the brand new authorities.

Nevertheless, Singapore’s International Ministry mentioned Rajapaksa was allowed entry into Singapore on a personal go to. “Rajapaksa has been allowed entry into Singapore on a personal go to. He has not requested for asylum and neither has he been granted any asylum. Singapore usually doesn’t grant requests for asylum,” a press release mentioned.

On Thursday, Ranil Wickremesinghe additionally requested the Speaker to appoint a Prime Minister who was acceptable to each the federal government and Opposition.

In the meantime, the Sri Lankan Military in a press release urged the protesters to desist from violence instantly or be ready to face the “penalties”, warning that the safety forces have been “legitimately empowered” to train drive.

The President’s resignation got here on a day when the protesters introduced they’d finish their occupation of official buildings, together with the presidential palace, presidential secretariat, and the Prime Minister’s workplace. The agitating residents have demanded that the interim authorities solely encompass politicians acceptable to them. 

Sri Lanka, a rustic of twenty-two million folks, is underneath the grip of an unprecedented financial turmoil, the worst in seven many years, leaving hundreds of thousands struggling to purchase meals, medication, gas, and different necessities.

Final week, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe mentioned Sri Lanka is now a bankrupt nation.