Sri Lanka President to Resign on July 13

Sri Lankan news portal, citing Parliament Spokesman Mahinda Yapa said Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will resign on July 13.

The spokesman confirmed that Rajapaksa had informed him of this.

A senior military source mentioned earlier that Rajapaksa fled his official residence in the capital before footage emerged of protesters demanding his resignation storming the presidential building.

Thousands of protesters swept the Sri Lankan capital. Instead of the planned peaceful march, the demonstrators broke through police barriers and took over the presidential palace.

Rajapaksa was reportedly evacuated shortly before his home was besieged by protesters.

In the same context, Denok Kulambag, the Prime Minister’s spokesman, said on Saturday that Wickremesinghe had told party leaders that he would resign when all parties agreed to form a new government.

At least 21 people including two policemen were injured and hospitalized in the ongoing protests, hospital sources told Reuters.

Last week, Rajapaksa called on Russian leader Vladimir Putin to help his country import fuel as it faces its worst economic crisis in seven decades.

“Had a very productive telecon with the Russian President Vladimir Putin. While thanking him for all the support extended by his govt to overcome the challenges of the past, I requested an offer of credit support to import fuel to #lka in defeating the current econ challenges,” Sri Lanka’s President said.