Sri Lanka accepted the resignation of the president after a letter from Singapore | World news

The Parliament of Sri Lanka accepted the resignation of President Gathabai Rajapaksa.

The letter was delivered from Singapore late last night and has now been authenticated.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena says the new president will be appointed “quickly and successfully” – the process should be completed within seven days.

Mr. Rajapaksa fled Sri Lanka on Wednesday after anger grew over the economic crisis, with protesters storming the president’s home and the prime minister’s official residence.

The appointment of the prime minister as acting president further angered protesters, who accused him of protecting Mr. Rajapaksa.

Rajapaksa initially fled to the Maldives on a military plane with his wife and two bodyguards, but later went to Singapore.

The embattled president initially sent an email to confirm he was resigning.

There were jubilant scenes in the capital, Colombo, after the resignation was confirmed, with crowds lighting firecrackers and dancing in the streets.

The next president who will fulfill his powers

Their new choice as president will serve the remainder of Mr. Rajapaksa’s term, which ends in 2024.

This person can potentially appoint a new prime minister, who must then be approved by parliament.

A crisis caused by shortages

Sri Lanka is short of money to pay for imports of essential goods such as food, fertilizer and fuel, much to the despair of the country’s 22 million people.

Its rapid economic decline was all the more shocking because before this crisis the economy was expanding with the growth of a comfortable middle class.