Sri Lanka president

Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled the country earlier this week, has formally resigned, the parliamentary speaker confirmed Friday, ...

I fear the economic crisis will take a long time to sort out and the people will suffer more unless Parliament gets its act together." "And in this context, today's discussions in parliament have taken a little bit too long. Wickmenesinghe will remain Acting President until Parliament elects a new President, with lawmakers summoned to meet on Saturday to start the process. The news sparked jubilant celebrations in Colombo on Thursday night, with crowds of cheering protesters lighting firecrackers and fireworks. For almost two days, it was unclear whether he would agree to resign; what would happen if he refused to do so; and even his whereabouts at times. But I came because I was scared for my son's future ... (for) the next generation.

COLOMBO, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as interim president before the chief justice on Friday, ...

"Under these circumstances, the constitutional procedure of appointing a new president will now be activated. He requested maximum cooperation for the democratic process of electing a new president and government from all party leaders, state officials, and security forces, and made a special appeal to the citizens of Sri Lanka to create a peaceful environment that would allow all lawmakers to attend parliament freely. Until this constitutional procedure is over, according to the constitution the prime minister will function in the capacity of the president overseeing functions, duties, and powers of the office of the president," the speaker told a media briefing.

In this photograph provided by the Sri Lankan President's Office, interim President Ranil Wickremesinghe, right, greets Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya during ...

Sri Lanka is left with virtually no foreign exchange to import essential commodities and most people are coping with massive hardship as prices of food soar, fuel supplies run out and long hours of power outages become the norm. However, a leadership transition could be chaotic as the political parties are deeply divided. “But we will persevere to change the system that the Rajapaksas represented.” Popular protests demanding a leadership change had erupted in the country after its economy spiraled into crisis earlier this year resulting in severe shortages of food and fuel. “In a people’s struggle like ours, moments of victory don’t last forever. Singapore generally does not grant requests for asylums,” the ministry said.

"We have decided to back Ranil Wickremesinghe as our presidential candidate," Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam told ...

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Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled the country earlier this week, has formally resigned, the parliamentary speaker confirmed Friday, ...

I fear the economic crisis will take a long time to sort out and the people will suffer more unless Parliament gets its act together." "And in this context, today's discussions in parliament have taken a little bit too long. Wickmenesinghe will remain Acting President until Parliament elects a new President, with lawmakers summoned to meet on Saturday to start the process. The news sparked jubilant celebrations in Colombo on Thursday night, with crowds of cheering protesters lighting firecrackers and fireworks. For almost two days, it was unclear whether he would agree to resign; what would happen if he refused to do so; and even his whereabouts at times. But I came because I was scared for my son's future ... (for) the next generation.

The support of both lawmakers and protesters will be crucial for the new leader. Read more at straitstimes.com.

He threw his hat in the ring on Thursday, saying he was ready to step up for the president's job if a majority of lawmakers supported him. He has been with Mr Rajapaksa's SLPP and was the party leader for his home base of Matara in southern Sri Lanka since 2016. A faction of Mr Rajapaksa's SLPP is also supporting him, he said. Earlier this year Mr Premadasa's name came up as a contender for the prime minister's job. He parted ways with Mr Wickremesinghe in early 2020, ahead of parliamentary elections that year. Sri Lanka is going through the worst economic and political crisis since its independence in 1948.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe -- who had also promised to resign but is now interim president instead -- imposed a state of emergency across Sri Lanka.

Current PM, opposition leader and a journalist have emerged as contenders to lead the cash-strapped nation.

“I ask for the support of fellow MPs, who believe that needs to embark on a new, constructive course. Mr Alahapperuma is a senior MP for the ruling SLPP party. Putting his weight behind the politician, SLPP lawmaker Charitha Herath said: “I’m a pragmatist. “We are not going to hoodwink the people. The speaker of Sri Lanka’s parliament says meetings will begin on Saturday to choose the new president. Continuously seeking support from all to achieve this task,” he tweeted on Friday.