The Sri Lankan Parliament will elect the new president on July 20, to lead the island nation on an interim basis after the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, pressured by the protest of thousands of citizens.
(Also read: Sri Lanka: protesters enter the official residence of the President)
After a meeting of the parties, once Rajapaksa’s resignation has been formalized, the Chamber will receive the nominations on July 19, and on Wednesday the 20th a new president will be elected, the president of the Sri Lankan Parliament, Mahinda, reported in a statement. Yapa Abeywardena.
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His resignation was confirmed today by the Prime Minister’s office, Ranil Wickremesinghe, without specifying further details.
Although Wickremesinghe, who ascended to the position just two months ago, who does so first in the line of succession to the Presidency of the island country, had also announced his resignation last Saturday, his office has not reported the formalization of this decision until now .
possible exile
Rajapaksa first found refuge in navy facilities, before being transferred to the Katunayake air base, which is located on the same perimeter as the country’s main airport, Bandaranaike, a senior defense official told AFP.The presidency did not communicate on Monday about the whereabouts or the situation of the president, but several local media affirm that he plans to go to Dubai.
The president said he would resign on Wednesday to allow a “peaceful transition”. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, also 73, would automatically become acting president if Rajapaksa steps down, but said he would step down if there is no consensus to form a unity government.
The process for the succession must last between three days, the minimum term to convene the Parliament, and 30, the maximum authorized by law.
The main opposition party, Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB), was negotiating this Monday with smaller political formations to get support for its leader Sajith Premadasa.
According to an SJB official, A provisional agreement has already been reached with dissidents from Rajapaksa’s SLPP party to support Premadasa, 55, the son of a former president, for the supreme post. The position of prime minister would correspond to a member of SLPP.
A former Rajapaksa ally, Dullas Alahapperuma, 63, could thus end up at the head of the government, an SJB deputy involved in the negotiations confided to AFP.
Five ministers resigned over the weekend and the prime minister’s office said the government had agreed to resign en bloc in the event of a “multi-party government” agreement.
INTERNATIONAL WRITING
*With information from Efe and AFP
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