Sri Lanka's Parliamentary Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has officially stepped down from his post.
He made the announcement speaking to reporters from his official residence, earlier on Friday.
Abeywardena said as per Article 38 (1) of the constitution he received the letter of resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa , on Friday (15).
“Gotabaya Rajapaksa has stepped down legally from his post from the 14th of July 2022 and the constitutional process to elect a new President will commence from this moment," he said.
"Until the process is complete, the duties and functions of the President will be discharged by the Prime Minister as per the provisions of the constitution."
The Speaker said the election of the new President will take place as per the provisions of the Presidential Elections (Special Provisions) Act (No. 2 of 1981) and Article 40 of the constitution of Sri Lanka.
He said the process will be completed expeditiously, and the process will take place in complete transparency complying with all democratic norms.
The Speaker has appealed to the public as well as all party leaders, state officials, and security forces to support this process.
He said within seven days all responsible officials will be involved in completing the process, and Parliament will convene on 16th July 2022.