Sri Lanka’s president and prime minister to resign following day of violent protests
- President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will step down on Wednesday, the country’s parliamentary speaker said, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe also said he is willing to resign
- Saturday saw a day of protests in which demonstrators stormed the president’s official residence and set fire to the prime minister’s home in Colombo
Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will step down next Wednesday, the country’s parliamentary speaker said on Saturday, bowing to popular pressure after a day of violent protests in which demonstrators stormed the president’s official residence and set fire to the prime minister’s home in Colombo.
The announcement came after a dramatic escalation in months of largely peaceful anti-government protests over a dire economic crisis on the Indian Ocean island of 22 million people.
There was no immediate word from the president himself.
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said in a video statement Rajapaksa had informed him that he will step down from his post.
“The decision to step down on 13 July was taken to ensure a peaceful handover of power,” Abeywardena said. “I therefore request the public to respect the law and maintain peace,” he said.
The news of the president’s decision triggered an eruption of celebratory fireworks in parts of Colombo.
