Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign on July 13, PM’s office confirms

Amid the ongoing protest in Sri Lanka and mounting pressure of protesters, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is resigning from his post and has officially informed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. According to the Colombo Gazette, the prime minister’s media unit said Rajapaksa had announced that he would resign on July 13.

Earlier on Saturday, during a press conference, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abhaywardene announced that the President would resign from his post on July 13. Moreover, even Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has announced to step down from his position.

Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa’s resignation came after thousands of people stormed the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday. However, the protesters who occupied the residences of the President and the Prime Minister have made it clear that they will continue their protest till the ministers resign.

Meanwhile, many dramatic visuals came from the PM’s official residence, where people were seen playing carrom board, sleeping on the sofa, enjoying the park and cooking dinner. The deteriorating economic situation in the country has increased the tension. Over the past few weeks, there have been reports of several confrontations between individuals and members of the police force and the armed forces at fuel stations.

However, Sri Lanka is suffering its worst economic crisis since gaining independence in 1948. The oil supply shortage has forced the closure of schools and government offices until further notice.