Sri Lanka crisis: PM asks speaker to choose new leader

Anger against PM and acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe grows after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa flees to Maldives.

Sri Lanka’s acting President and Prime minister Wickremesinghe, has asked the speaker of parliament to nominate a new prime minister, his media division has said in a statement.

“Acting President and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has informed Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to nominate a prime minister who is acceptable to both the government and opposition,” the statement said.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 73, left for the Maldives hours before he was expected to resign amid widespread protests over his handling of a devastating economic crisis.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has declared a state of emergency across the island nation, with the parliament speaker saying Wickremesinghe has been appointed acting president by Rajapaksa.

Protesters also continue to occupy the official residences of the president and the prime minister after both buildings were stormed on Saturday.

Sri Lanka is facing a severe shortage of fuel and other essential supplies and is seeking a bailout from the International Monetary Fund.

SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES