Sri Lanka: PM Ranil Wickremesinghe appointed acting president as Gotabaya Rajapaksa flees to Maldives

New Delhi: Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has been appointed the acting president as incumbent Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled abroad, the Parliament Speaker announced Wednesday as thousands of protesters took to the streets demanding both men step down.

“Because of his absence from the country, President Rajapaksa told me that he has appointed the prime minister to act as the president in line with the constitution,” Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana said in a brief televised statement.

Also read: Sri Lanka declares state of emergency after protests erupt over President Gotabaya’s escape to Maldives

Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his wife fled to Maldives in the wee hours of Wednesday. Earlier, the speaker had said that Rajapaksa would resign on 13 July.

Meanwhile, protesters have stormed the PM’s office in Colombo despite heavy security deployment.

Lawmakers to pick next president on 20 July

The speaker had announced that lawmakers will pick the next president on 20 July. Frontrunners for the post include top Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa.

With inputs from agencies

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