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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Hannah Ellis-Petersen South Asia correspondent

President of crisis-hit Sri Lanka confirms he will quit amid protests

Gotabaya Rajapaksa Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe
Protesters take a dip in the swimming pool at the president's official residence a day after it was stormed in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Protesters take a dip in the swimming pool at the president's official residence in Colombo, Sri Lanka, a day after it was stormed. Photograph: Eranga Jayawardena/AP

Sri Lanka’s government has confirmed the president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, is to resign, paving the way for the appointment of a successor, amid reports that the beleaguered leader had attempted to flee the country on Monday.

A statement from the office of the prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, said “Rajapaksa has officially informed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe that he will be resigning”, in the most formal confirmation yet that the president intends to step down later this week.

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