Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the president of Sri Lanka, has not resigned on Thursday morning despite repeated promises to do so by Wednesday at the latest. The president has left the country. He left for the Maldives on a military plane on Wednesday. From there, according to a source, he would go to Singapore.
On Wednesday, many protests took place in the country, which had been ravaged by an economic crisis. According to hospital sources, at least 45 people were admitted Wednesday evening (local time) after a clash between protesters and riot police outside the parliament building.
According to local media, a 26-year-old protester died after he developed breathing difficulties due to the use of tear gas. A number of demonstrators have now left the area near the parliament building, a police spokesman said.
Sri Lanka’s parliament is expected to appoint a new president next week. Current Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is currently acting as acting president, would be the first choice. But the anger of demonstrators has also turned against Wickremesinghe in recent days. On Wednesday, protesters broke into his home. It is not known where Wickremesinghe is currently located.
