Sri Lanka’s president quits after fleeing protests in crisis-hit country

Gotabaya Rajapaksa has resigned as president of Sri Lanka a day after fleeing weeks of mass protests over the country’s economic crisis.

Rajapaksa’s office said his resignation letter had been received by the country’s parliamentary speaker, after it was flown from Singapore, to where the leader had fled via the Maldives.

The speaker’s office said it would verify the authenticity of the letter, complete all legal processes and make an official announcement about Rajapaksa’s resignation on Friday.

News of Rajapaksa’s resignation was greeted by cheers and the launching of firecrackers in the streets of Colombo. “I can’t believe it, no more Gotabaya. This is a great day for the Sri Lankan people,” said Rubika, 26, who was among those dancing in the streets as the announcement broke.

Gotabaya left for the Maldives on Wednesday under the cover of darkness then went onwards to Singapore, leaving Sri Lanka in a state of political limbo as he refused to resign for more than 36 hours despite his absence.

Many Sri Lankans hold Rajapaksa responsible for driving Sri Lanka into its worst economic crisis since independence in 1948, which has led to severe shortages of fuel, food and medicines. Along with several members of his politically powerful family who held political posts, he is accused of economic mismanagement and widespread corruption.

Rajapaksa has not directly addressed the people of Sri Lanka since he was evacuated from his home on Saturday morning, before protests in which hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Colombo demanding he step down.

Rajapaksa’s resignation was confirmed by Mohamed Nasheed, the former president of the Maldives, who helped facilitate the president’s escape to the Maldives on Wednesday.

Rasheed tweeted: “President GR has resigned. I hope Sri Lanka can now move forward. I believe the president would not have resigned if he were still in Sri Lanka and fearful of losing his life.”

Rajapaksa had pushed back against months of demands for him to step down, but he was forced into resigning after the protests in Colombo on Saturday culminated in his presidential palace and offices being occupied by thousands of protesters.

He had originally given a date of 13 July for his resignation but it was delayed as he appeared to struggle to find a country that would take him in and give him a safe haven.

After his arrival on Thursday, the Singapore government made it clear that Rajapaksa was not there to stay. In a swiftly released statement, the foreign ministry clarified that Rajapaksa had been given entry to Singapore “on a private visit” and that “he has not asked for asylum and neither has he been granted any asylum”.

A spokesperson for the Indian government also denied reports that India had helped facilitate Rajapaksa’s escape from Sri Lanka.

His final destination remains unclear. There are reports he will be travelling onwards to Saudi Arabia but they could not be confirmed.

Observers have said they assumed his resignation announcement would not come until he had reached a destination from where he could ensure protection from prosecution on charges of alleged corruption. He also faces longstanding war crimes accusations from his time as head of the armed forces during Sri Lanka’s civil war.

Sri Lanka remained in a state of emergency and soldiers were authorised to use necessary force to prevent destruction of property and life, the country’s army said in a statement on Thursday.

In Rajapaksa’s absence, he had appointed the prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, to be “acting president” with full executive powers. However this was rejected by protesters who have also called for Wickremesinghe to resign over accusations he helped prop up the Gotabaya Rajapaksa regime, and protected the Rajapaksa family for years.

On Wednesday, protesters forced their way through a thick wall of police and military enforcement and thick teargas and took over the offices of Wickremesinghe, demanding he resign immediately as prime minister and interim president.

But with Rajapaksa’s resignation likely to be official by Friday, according to the constitution it is Wickremesinghe who will take formally his place. He could be sworn in as the new president on the same day, though would probably only occupy the role for a few days.

Parliament is due to reconvene in the coming days and power is due to be handed over to a new “unity government” comprised of multiple political parties, who will decide on a new prime minister. MPs will then vote for a new president on 20 July.

On Thursday morning, protesters said they had peacefully handed back the government buildings they had occupied, including the president’s residential palace, and the prime minister’s offices and official residence, in order to maintain peace.

Swasthika Arulingam, a spokesperson for the people’s movement known as Aragalaya, was damning of the actions recently taken by those leading the country. “For the last three days these politicians have acted as if this country is their private property,” she said. “It is not their private property and they have put our country at risk, they have put our national security at risk.”

She said that protesters would occupy the president’s administrative office in the Galle Face area of Colombo to symbolise their continued call for systemic political change. The secretariat has been turned into a public library, where people have been encouraged to donate books. Some books claimed from the prime minister’s official residence, Temple Trees, are among the collection.

Despite Thursday’s curfew, the library was still filled with dozens of people quietly reading, among them 22-year-old, Pradeep Madushan. “Our protest is not just about bringing down our corrupt leaders, it is about knowledge and education and awareness,” he said. “That’s why we are keeping this library here for the people.”