Large-Scale Anti-Government Protests in Sri Lanka, President Rajapaksa Abruptly Resigns

Anti-Government Protesters Storm Presidential Office, Set Fire to Prime Minister's Residence
Resignation Scheduled for 13th... Speaker of the National Assembly Appointed Interim President
May Default Declaration, Economic Crisis Worsens with Shortages of Fuel and Essentials

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Hee-jong] Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa announced his sudden resignation on the night of the 9th (local time), according to foreign media including AFP. As Sri Lanka faced a national default crisis and worsening economic difficulties, large-scale anti-government protests demanding the regime's resignation erupted.

According to foreign media reports, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament, stated in a TV announcement that President Rajapaksa conveyed his intention to step down from the presidency on the 13th.

Speaker Abeywardena said the president's decision was made to ensure a peaceful transfer of power and added, "Therefore, I ask the general public to respect the law and maintain peace."

President Rajapaksa, who won the presidential election in November 2019, had been under pressure to resign from the opposition and the majority of the public due to his responsibility for Sri Lanka's economic crisis. His term was until 2024.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

On the same day, large-scale anti-government protests occurred in Sri Lanka, leading to an emergency evacuation of the president from the office building and protesters breaking into the premises. Thousands protested near the presidential office in the capital Colombo and on the streets, demanding the regime's resignation.

The protesters also entered and set fire to the residence of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

As public sentiment exploded, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe convened a cabinet meeting just before his residence was set on fire and expressed his willingness to resign. Earlier, party leaders had appointed Speaker Abeywardena as interim president.

Party leadership is expected to convene parliament soon to officially elect an acting president, form an interim national unity government, and announce an election schedule. Until recently, President Rajapaksa, along with his brother and former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and other relatives from the Rajapaksa family, had completely controlled Sri Lanka's political landscape.

Since falling into default and worsening economic difficulties, protests in Sri Lanka have intensified since May. The country is facing severe shortages of essential goods such as fuel, medicine, and food.

The Sri Lankan government declared a 'temporary default' on April 12, stating that it would defer external debt repayments until the conclusion of bailout negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and officially entered a default state on May 18.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.