Gotabaya Rajapaksa officially resigns as President of Sri Lanka

Gotabaya Rajapaksa has officially stepped down as the President of Sri Lanka effective from July 14, 2022, giving into the months-long nationwide public protests against the government’s mishandling of the economy.

Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena announced this in a special statement delivered at a media briefing held at his residence this morning.

According to him, a Head of State is expected to be appointed within a period of seven days, pursuant to Article 40 of the Constitution and Presidential Elections (Special Provisions) Act (No. 2 of 1981).

The Prime Minister will act in accordance with the Constitution to exercise and perform the powers, functions and duties of the President until the completion of the said process.

The Speaker appealed to all political party leaders, state officials, security forces and the members of the public to extend their support to this democratic process.

Last night, the Speaker’s Office said they have received a letter of resignation from Rajapaksa through the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Singapore.

Upon verifying the authenticity of the letter and finalizing all legal matters, the Speaker made the official announcement on Rajapaksa’s resignation from the presidency today.

Before leaving Colombo on July 12, Rajapaksa had promised to bow out the following day, however, he submitted his resignation to the Speaker only after landing in Singapore yesterday (July 14).

Pursuant to Article 38 of the Constitution, the Head of State can step down by submitting a resignation letter signed by him to the Speaker of Parliament.

The beleaguered Sri Lankan President had landed in Singapore on board a Saudia Airlines flight yesterday. His final destination still remains uncertain.

Shortly before Rajapaksa’s arrival, the Singapore government clarified that he is on a private visit and has not been granted asylum.

“It is confirmed that Mr. Rajapaksa has been allowed entry into Singapore on a private visit. He has not asked for asylum and neither has he been granted any asylum. Singapore generally does not grant requests for asylum” Singapore’s foreign ministry was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.

Rajapaksa travelled to Singapore on a Saudi Airlines flight from the Maldives. Saudi Airline flight SV 788 believed to be carrying President Rajapaksa had touched down at the Changi International Airport in Singapore shortly after 7.00 p.m. (local time).

Amidst growing protests demanding his immediate resignation over the island nation’s worst-ever economic crisis, Rajapaksa fled Colombo for Maldives late on July 12, with his wife Ioma Rajapaksa and two security officers in a military plane. Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), later confirmed that it provided a military plane for Rajapaksa’s departure upon a request made by the incumbent government.

Foreign media, citing sources in Malé, said Rajapaksa’s escape to the Maldives was negotiated by the Maldivian Majlis (Parliament) Speaker and former president Mohamed Nasheed. The Maldivian government also faced a huge backlash for accepting Rajapaksa’s arrival.