Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa agreed to step down Thursday, July 14, 2022 after protestors stormed his house July 9, amidst widespread disapproval of economic downfall and poor government management. Factors which further contributed to the protests are the devaluation of the Sri Lankan rupee due to over production of currency, a policy shift to organic or biological farming, the Easter bombings in 2019, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rajapaksa fled to Singapore shortly after he sent a letter of resignation to the speaker of the country’s parliament via email. The office of the speaker of the parliament in Sri Lanka must follow steps in the verification of the authenticity of the letter. His counterpart Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is currently acting president, however Wickremesinghe has also agreed to step down.
“To ensure the continuation of the Government including the safety of all citizens I accept the best recommendation of the Party Leaders today, to make way for an All-Party Government. To facilitate this I will resign as Prime Minister,” according to his Twitter account.
Elections for a new President are scheduled for July 20, 2022, as a result of the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Sri Lankan law dictates a governmental successor be elected within 30 days. Many are hopeful that, with the upcoming elections and a new government, Sri Lanka can progress and become an economically and socially stable country.
By Alexander Fernandez
LNT Reporter
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