Sri Lankan parliament speaker on Monday said that a new president will be elected in Sri Lanka on July 20.
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said the party leaders had decided to elect a new president on July 20 through a vote in parliament if President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigned on July 13.
In a statement, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said that following a meeting with all political party leaders, it was decided to convene parliament sessions on July 15 and inform the parliament that there was a vacancy for the presidency.
Nominations for the presidency will be called for on July 19 and a vote will be taken on July 20 to elect a new president, the speaker said.
Party leaders also decided to form an all-party government under the new president and take steps to continue the supply of essential services.
Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Saturday said he will step down from the presidency on July 13 amid economic and political instability.
Political developments have taken a new turn after thousands of people stormed the Presidential Palace in Fort on Saturday. Amid fierce protests, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has announced his resignation.
The protesters, who occupied the residences of the president and prime minister, said the country’s deteriorating economic situation had increased tensions and the political leadership was responsible for it. In recent weeks, there have been reports of clashes between the public and police at fuel stores. Sri Lanka is going through the worst economic crisis since gaining independence in 1948.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has formally announced the resignation of Prime Minister Bikram Singh. Extreme oil shortages have closed schools and government offices until further notice.
Emergency ambulance services have also been suspended in many areas of Sri Lanka amid fuel shortages. The economic crisis has directly affected access to food security, agriculture, livelihoods and health care.
(With inputs from agencies)
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