Special statement from Prime Minister

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s special statement addressing the nation commenced, a short while ago.

He stated that last Thursday, he had accepted the Premiership of Sri Lanka and that it was not what he had asked for.

Ranil Wickremesinghe appointed Prime Minister

From Thursday (12) Sri Lanka has a new Prime Minister, Ranil Wickrmesinghe who has already held the post on several occasions. He was appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

‘We will not leave the country’ - Namal

Sri Lanka’s Mahinda Rajapaksa -- who resigned as prime minister after his supporters attacked anti-government protesters and sparked a day of violence -- will not flee the country, his son MP Namal Rajapaksa told AFP on Tuesday.

He said the Rajapaksa family had no plans to leave Sri Lanka despite weeks of protests demanding they relinquish power.

Mahinda Rajapaksa resigns as PM

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa sent his letter of resignation to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday (9) after violent scenes were witnessed in Colombo.

Speaking to The Morning, Prime Minister’s Secretary Rohan Weliwita confirmed that the letter was sent to the President yesterday evening.

President calls Sajith to form Govt

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has asked the Prime Minister-led Cabinet to resign and pave the way to form a national programme to stabilise the country ending the current crises, Mass Media Minister, Dr. Nalaka Godahewa told the media yesterday (08).

He also said, the Prime Minister’s decision to resign would either be made today or in the coming few days.

“Once the Prime Minister resigns the Cabinet stands automatically dissolved. The President requested us to resign to end this political stalemate,” he added.

Prime Minister’s resignation doubtful - Dayasiri

General Secretary of the SLFP and former Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara expressed doubts about the proposed statement to be made by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa today before his resignation as there was a move to stage a protest by a few former SLPP pradeshiya saba members before the Presidential Secretariat demanding the premier not to resign.

‘I have information that Prime Minister Rajapaksa had summoned a few selected number of former PS members to Temple Trees and told them to stage a protest. If this happens today, the modus operandi is to say that ‘How I can resign, (sic) when people ask me not to do so?’.