(UTV | COLOMBO) – President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is due to officially resign as the country’s President today.
Speaker of House Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on the 9th of July announced that President Rajapaksa informed of his intention to resign on the 13th of July.
The Speaker made the announcement after the party leaders’ meeting held on the 9th of July after protesters part of the people’s struggle took control of the President’s House and the Presidential Secretariat.
The Office of the Prime Minister meanwhile on the 11th of July informed that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa officially communicated his intention to step down to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
When the office of the President is vacant, the Prime Minister is entitled through the Constitution to act as the acting President.
However, protesters and political parties are opposed to the current Prime Minister continuing in the role, while Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has also informed of his willingness to resign once an all-party government is formed.
If the Prime Minister is unable to function as the acting President, provisions are in place for the Speaker to function as the acting President for a month.
Within the month, Parliament must choose a successor for the remainder of the term of office of the outgoing President. The successor will be selected by Parliament.
The MP who is elected as the President must secure more than 50 percent of the votes cast.
In the event the President resigns today, Parliament will convene on the 15th of July while nominations for the Presidency will be accepted on the 19th.
Subsequently, a successor President will be elected by Parliament on the 20th.