蜜芽传媒

Demonstrators in Colombo are celebrating after the Sri Lankan president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, finally resigned following days of huge anti-government protests.

Mr Rajapaksa sent his promised letter of resignation shortly after arriving in Singapore, having fled Sri Lanka on Wednesday, with protesters taking over more government buildings in the capital.

The speaker, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, formally announced the resignation: 鈥淔rom this point, we will move to constitutionally appoint a new president."

The prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is currently acting president, although demonstrators such as Chameera Dedduwage, an anti-government activist who has been taking part in the protests, also want him to step aside.

鈥淵ou couldn鈥檛 have caught me in a more jubilant mood. It鈥檚 quite unbelievable. This is iconic. Gotabaya Rajapaksa was the most powerful president in the history of Sri Lanka and he鈥檚 the only president compelled to resign by people鈥檚 power only.鈥�

鈥淣ow that the constitutional crisis has been averted鈥� we have to go to the political crisis and the socio-economic crisis. But the constitution is very clear, a new president has to be elected within one month.鈥�

(Pic: Jubilant crowds celebrate the resignation of the Sri Lankan president; Credit: Reuters)

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