Amidst public protest, SL President decides to resign on July 13

SUSITHA FERNANDO
Colombo, July 9 (IANS)
After a months-long massive public agitation, Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaska on Saturday informed the Speaker that he would resign from the Presidency on July 13.
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene announced that President Rajapaksa had informed him about his decision to resign.
People set off fire-crackers as soon as the news broke.
Following a massive public march to Colombo on Saturday morning and forcible occupation of the President’s House, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe asked the Speaker to summon the leaders of all political parties and decide on the way to resolve the crisis.
A majority of party leaders had decided to remove the President and the Prime Minister and appoint a temporary President and all-party government for a specific period until
a fresh election is held to form a government.
President Rajapaksa, who had not appeared publicly since Friday night, had announced he would agree any decision taken by the party leaders.
Following the all-party meeting, the Speaker had sent a letter to the President
and the Prime Minister, urging them to step down for a peaceful transfer of power.
Anti-government protesters on Saturday set fire to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s private residence in the heart of Colombo after his security attacked them.
The protesters, who marched to Colombo on Saturday morning demanding resignation of President Gotobaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, stormed the President’s official residence, braving police, and later occupied the Prime Minister’s official resident, the Temple Trees.
“Protesters have broken into the private residence of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and have set it on fire,” the PM’s office announced.

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