Protesters gather inside compound of Sri Lanka’s Presidential Palace in Colombo
(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)Sri Lanka’s parliament has accepted the resignation of president Gotabaya Rajapaksa following weeks of unrest.
Rajapaska and his wife bolted aboard an air force plane bound for the Maldives on Wednesday night after weeks of protests over the nation’s staggering economic collapse.
He then flew to Singapore on Thursday but it has been reported his ultimate destination is Saudi Arabia.
The resignation marked the end of the political dynasty in Sri Lanka as the family had power in the country for nearly 20 years.
Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, the speaker of parliament, said on Friday that he accepted Mr Rajapaksa’s resignation which he received late on Thursday.
He has called for parliament to convene on Saturday to start the process of electing a new leader.
"It will happen quickly and successfully. I request everyone to support this process,” he said.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has been sworn in as Sri Lanka’s interim president until a successor is chosen.
After suffered from crippling shortages of petrol and diesel and runaway prices of basic items like vegetables and bread for months, Sri Lankans now wait for lawmakers to elect a new president.
Protesters cooked and distributed milk rice — a food Sri Lankans enjoy to celebrate victories — after Rajapaksa’s resignation.
At the main protest site in front of the president’s office in Colombo, people welcomed his resignation but insisted Wickremesinghe also should step aside.
“I am happy that Gotabaya has finally left. He should have resigned earlier, without causing much problems,” Velauynatha Pillai, 73, a retired bank employee, said as patriotic songs were blaring from loudspeakers.
But he added: “Ranil is a supporter of Gotabaya and other Rajapaksas. He was helping them. He also must go.”
Earlier this week on Thursday, protesters retreated from seized government buildings after the military reinforced security around Colombo.
