Local polls were to be held last year but were delayed due to Sri Lanka’s economic crisis. After another postponement was announced in February, judicial intervention led to the polls being scheduled for April 25

Mudalige, who was in custody since August 18 last year under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), was cleared of all terrorism charges on January 31. On February 1, he was released from custody on bail

Meanwhile, appeals for justice continue after the assault on protestors at the Galle Face site in Colombo in which around 50 people were injured and tents were torn down

The resignation comes after Rajapaksa, who came to power with an unprecedented 6.9 million votes, fled the country on July 13 following massive protests