Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has resigned, Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena officially announced on Friday. This comes two days after the embattled leader fled the country in the face of massive protests against his government for mishandling the economy that bankrupted the country. In a press statement, the Speaker said that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will act as interim president till the conclusion of the process of electing a new president by parliament. Stay with Indiatoday.in for LIVE updates on the crisis in Sri Lanka:
The Sri Lankan economic crisis is escalating by the minute with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa refusing to step down. He appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe the acting President after he fled to Male, Maldives, with his wife and two staffers on Wednesday, infuriating protesters further. Protesters have so far taken over the Presidential palace, PM's office, PM's house, and the state broadcaster. Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa called the government's actions thus far "total anarchy". Stay with India Today to get LIVE updates on the developments in Sri Lanka.
Amid intense protests against Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, here are the three likely scenarios for Sri Lanka, which is facing one of its worst crisis in decades.
President Gotabaya Rajapakasa and acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe's refusal to step down has infuriated protesters who have taken over the Presidential palace, PM's office, PM's house, and the state broadcaster's office. Here are the top developments.
Protesters surrounded the Sri Lankan PM’s office, demanding he and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resign amid the economic meltdown. “We want everything that was taken away from us. Need our money back,” one protester said.