Europe 1 with AFP 08:03, July 15, 2022

The resignation of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been accepted, the Speaker of Parliament announced on Friday, after the head of state fled abroad, whose residence was invaded by demonstrators last week.

Sri Lankans were waiting on Friday for confirmation of the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled his country after protesters invaded his residence.

This is today done.

His resignation has been accepted, Parliament announced.

"Gotabaya has legally resigned," Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana told reporters.

An eagerly awaited resignation

Mr. Rajapaksa announced his resignation from Singapore on Thursday, after fleeing his country on Wednesday.

The official announcement of the abandonment of his functions, intervened only after examination of the "authenticity and legality" of the letter announcing it, sent by email to the speaker of Parliament, said the spokesman of the latter, Indunil Yapadu.

Mr. Rajapaksa had fled his residence on Saturday, stormed by demonstrators accusing him of his mismanagement at a time when Sri Lanka is going through the most serious economic crisis in its history.

He had managed to leave his country on Wednesday to go to the Maldives, from where he took a plane to Singapore on Thursday.

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 Sri Lanka, a country subject to inter-religious tensions

He is the first head of state to step down since Sri Lanka opted for presidential rule in 1978.