Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigns amid turmoil in the country

Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has resigned from his post. He has e-mailed his resignation to the speaker of the country's parliament. The former president of the country in unprecedented chaos landed in Singapore from Maldives on Thursday (July 14). He had fled Sri Lanka on a military plane to go to Maldives.

It is being reported that Rajapaksa e-mailed his resignation to speaker of the Sri Lankan parliament.

Interestingly, Maldives President Mohammed Nasheed tweeted about Rajapaksa's resignation. He referred to Rajapaksa as 'GR' in his tweet.

"President GR has resigned. I hope Sri Lanka can now move forward. I believe the President would not have resigned if he were still in Sri Lanka, and fearful of losing his life. I commend the thoughtful actions of the Govt of Maldives. My best wishes to the people of Sri Lanka," tweeted Nasheed.

The resignation was being forwarded to the country's attorney general to consider legal implications before being formally accepted, said AFP quoting sources.

Sri Lanka is currently witnessing unprecedented chaos due a major economic crisis that has seen acute shortage of food, medicine and fuel among others. There have been massive protests across the country and huge mobs of angry Sri Lankans have ransacked official residences of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and now former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

As president, Rajapaksa enjoyed immunity from arrest. He had agreed to step down in the wake of massive protests. He fled the country on Wednesday and went to Maldives. From there he flew to Singapore on Thursday.

Singapore's foreign ministry confirmed Rajapaksa had been allowed to enter the city-state for a "private visit", adding: "He has not asked for asylum and neither has he been granted any asylum."

(With inputs from agencies)

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE