It was during great drama that former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country earlier this week. His formal resignation has now been accepted and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will take his place until a new president has been appointed.
On Saturday, the parliament will meet to, if it can agree, elect a new president to sit in Rajapaksas during the term of office, which ends in 2024.
Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana hopes the process is over within a week.
Revoked curfew
The change of leadership comes after months of political turbulence and economic difficulties in the country, with extensive demonstrations and protests as a result. There is a shortage of both food and fuel in Sri Lanka and the country is often hit by long power outages. Inflation is skyrocketing and there is not enough foreign currency to be able to import important goods.
The protesters have long seen former President Rajapaksa as responsible for the crisis in the country, but also demand that the newly sworn in Vice President Ranil Wickremesinghe resign.
Close ties with fleeing president
The protesters have long seen former President Rajapaksa as responsible for the crisis in the country, but also demand that the newly sworn in Vice President Ranil Wickremesinghe resign.
– He is a supporter of Gotabaya and others from the Rajapaksa family. He helped them. He must also go, says 73-year-old protester Veleuynatha Pillai.
Stormed the Prime Minister’s headquarters
Earlier this week stormed crowds the former prime minister’s headquarters and clashed with security forces. The president’s palace has also been stormed.
A protester then told the BBC that a protest rally against Ranil Wickremesinghe was expected in the coming days.