Sri Lankan Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena announced President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation on Friday.
According to the Speaker, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will be appointed as President of Sri Lanka until a new President is elected.
“As one of South Asia’s oldest democracies, I urge all political parties and the people to support democratic practices and take the necessary steps to resolve the current situation,” the Speaker said.
The Parliament would be called on Saturday (July 16) to accept nominations for the next President, followed by an election of 225 MPs.