Ri Lanka’s president has emailed his resignation after months of protests against his government’s role in the collapse of the country’s economy, a government official said.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the island on Wednesday under pressure from protesters occupying the presidential palace.
Government official Indunil Yapa said on Thursday that the speaker will make an official announcement of the resignation in the next 24 hours.
Sri Lankan protesters withdrew from government buildings they had seized and military forces strengthened security at the parliament after news of the resignation trickled in.
The former president, whose family ruled the country for 20 years, is now believed to be in Singapore after originally flying to the island paradise of the Maldives.
Months of protests peaked over the weekend as protesters… the president’s house and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s office and residence.
The protesters had demanded that they both resign and now that the president has resigned, they have left the presidential palace and the streets are quiet.
Protesters withdrew from the Prime Minister’s and President’s residence, where some moved a red carpet they had rolled up.
Others held a press conference to announce that they were also withdrawing from the prime minister’s office.
Activist Visaka Jayaweer told the Associated Press: “Taking over his home was a great moment, it showed how badly we wanted him to step down. But it is also a great relief.
“We were concerned if people would react — many were angry to see the luxuries they had lived in when they were out, struggling to buy milk for their children.”
Until an alternative government is installed, a hoped-for bailout of the International Monetary Fund could be delayed.
Meanwhile, the country is dependent on aid from India and China.