President of crisis-hit Sri Lanka confirms he will quit amid protests
by Hannah Ellis-Petersen South Asia correspondent from World news | The Guardian on (#61939)
Gotabaya Rajapaksa informs PM's office of resignation intention as brother Basil is turned away at airport and opposition leader signals plan to run for president
Sri Lanka's government has confirmed the president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, is to resign, paving the way for the appointment of a successor, amid reports that the beleaguered leader had fled the country on Monday.
A statement from the office of the prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, said Rajapaksa has officially informed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe that he will be resigning", in the most formal confirmation yet that the president intends to step down later this week.
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