Protestors marched the streets of the Sri Lankan capital raising concerns about the increased repression of dissenting voices under the current regime led by Ranil Wickremesinghe, which came to power in July this year following a wave of mass anti-government protests

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

On Thursday, July 14, the speaker of the Sri Lankan parliament said that the resignation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa would be officially announced once legal formalities are concluded

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said he will quit on July 13 and prime minister and his cabinet have also announced their resignations. In the event of these resignations, the parliament speaker will become the interim president

Ahilan Kadirgamar, senior lecturer at the University of Jaffna, analyzes the recent political developments in Sri Lanka after the fall of the powerful Mahinda Rajapaksa

Wickremesinghe, who is the leader of the United National Party (UNP), has already served four terms as prime minister earlier. He was appointed by incumbent President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on May 12 after days of hectic political drama and deadly clashes that hit the streets with the President’s brother and former PM stepping down earlier this week

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s older brother, 74-year-old Mahinda Rajapaksa is predicted to lead his party, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), to victory in the elections. The results will be announced late on Thursday