Gotabaya Rajapaksa will step down as president of Sri Lanka next Wednesday. He informed Parliament Speaker Mahinda Abeywardena. Earlier on Saturday, the president’s official residence was stormed by an angry mob of protesters. It is unknown where the president is currently located.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe also expressed his willingness to resign earlier on Saturday. His home in the capital Colombo was set on fire on Saturday by anti-government protesters. Wickremesinghe had succeeded Mahinda Rajapaksa, the current president’s brother, just two months ago with the aim of calming the protests.
If President Rajapaksa steps down on Wednesday, an interim president is likely to be appointed, who, along with a transitional government comprising all political parties, will lead the country for a period of 30 days. “The decision to step down on July 13 was taken to ensure a peaceful transfer of power,” said parliament speaker Abeywardena. He called on protesters to stop the violent demonstrations.
Rajapaksa’s home in Colombo was stormed on Saturday by thousands of protesters who broke through a police barricade. Soldiers managed to relieve the president in time. However, it has been restless in Sri Lanka for months, due to the economic crisis and shortages of food, fuel and medicines. Some of the protestors’ anger is directed at President Rajapaksa’s family. He would have been guilty of corruption and nepotism.