Due to his absence, Rajapaksa has appointed Wickremesinghe as acting president, the speaker of parliament reports. A part of the constitution is invoked that applies if the president is unable to perform his duties.
Rajapaksa had left for the Maldives hours earlier on a military plane. He also had to flee on Saturday, when protesters broke into his official residence in the capital Colombo. After news of the departure broke, protesters in Colombo chanted that the president is a thief. Hundreds of demonstrators also stormed Wickremesinghe’s office on Wednesday.
worst crisis
Demonstrations against the government have been ongoing for some time as Sri Lanka faces its worst economic crisis since its independence in 1948. There is a shortage of everything on the island. This is largely because the government has run out of foreign currency. The crisis is accompanied by food, fuel and medicine shortages. To stem the growing number of anti-government demonstrations, a curfew is now in place in the province that includes the capital.
Protesters blame Rajapaksa for the economic crisis and want him to resign. The president said last week that he was willing to resign after previously refusing. A source within his party has said Rajapaksa will resign on Wednesday. Protesters also want Wickremesinghe to resign. The Prime Minister has already said he is prepared to do so. Upon his departure, the Speaker of Parliament is designated as Acting President. It will remain on until a new president is elected.