Sri Lanka Economic Crisis: As Sri Lanka struggles to cope with a severe economic crisis, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Sunday announced his resignation, hours after several angry protestors thronged his official residence, forcing him to flee to an unknown location. Rajapaksa has informed that he will resign from the Presidency on July 13, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena announced in a press conference on Saturday. A group of irate protesters on Saturday had also entered Wickremesinghe’s private residence at Cambridge Place and set it on fire amid a massive public protest in the country over the unprecedented economic crisis. In the latest development, Sri Lankan police today arrested three people for setting Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s private residence on fire a day earlier, amidst massive anti-government protests, media reports said.
Rajapaksa has informed that he will resign from the Presidency on July 13, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena announced in a press conference on Saturday.
His announcement to resign came soon after Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said he would leave office. Pressure on both leaders grew as the economic meltdown set off acute shortages of essential items, leaving people struggling to buy food, fuel and other necessities.
What happens after Rajapaksa resigns?
With Rajapaksa announcing to resign, the Sri Lankan Parliament will have to select one of its members as the President. The new appointment has to be made within one month's time from the resignation of the President.
According to the Sri Lankan constitution, the current prime minister will become the acting president. So, after Rajapaksa resigns, Ranil Wickremesinghe will take over as Acting President, until the President post is filled up again.
Also Read: Did Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa flee country in navy ship? Here's what video evidence shows
Indian govt supportive of Sri Lanka
Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday said the Indian government has always been supportive of Sri Lanka and it was "trying to help" the neighbouring country through its present economic crisis and made it clear that there was "no refugee crisis right now".
Speaking to reporters outside the Thiruvananthapuram airport after arriving in the state capital on a three-day visit, Jaishankar said, "We have been very supportive of Sri Lanka.
Millions of rupees found inside Rajapaksa’s residence, say protestors
The anti-government protesters in Sri Lanka who stormed embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's official residence have claimed to have recovered millions of rupees inside his mansion, according to a media report on Sunday. A video is being shared on social media showing the protesters counting the currency notes that were unearthed.
Protestors storm Rajapaksa's residence, break barricades
Protests by thousands rocked Colombo yesterday. Crowds tore through the barricades surrounding Rajapaksa's residence, climbed over the fence and took control of the area.
Dramatic visuals from outside Rajapaksa's residence showed a sea of demonstrators storming into the compound, tearing down security cordons placed by police, taking a dip in the swimming pool and romping through his kitchen and home.
