The resignation of Sri Lanka’s president has been accepted, the crisis-stricken nation’s house speaker stated on Friday (July 15), after the president departed the country earlier this week and alerted him of his decision to stand down from his position in Singapore.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was previously known as “The Terminator” for his brutal crushing of Tamil insurgents, is the first head of state in Sri Lanka to retire since the country formed an executive presidency in 1978. This is because the official statement was made by Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
When originally fleeing to the Maldives after protesters overran his palace over the weekend, he eventually made his way to Singapore, where he emailed in his resignation. He had flown there from the Maldives.
As of Thursday, Gotabaya “has legally resigned,” Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana told reporters. “Gotabaya has officially resigned.” “I understand that you want to withdraw your resignation.”
According to the constitution of Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, whose resignation is also being called for by protesters, will automatically become acting President until parliament can elect an MP to succeed Rajapaksa for the remainder of his term. Protesters are also calling for Wickremesinghe’s resignation.
Abeywardana informed reporters at his house that a special session of the legislature would be called on Saturday, and he added that he intended to finish the process of electing a new president “within seven days.”