Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in a special statement, said he has decided to step down from his position out of respect for democracy.
"We decided to honour the people’s mandate given to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and allow him to form a new government, despite having the majority in Parliament," the Prime Minister said.
He noted that he would inform his resignation to the President officially tomorrow.
Wickremesinghe said he had met with newly-elected President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday (Nov 19) and had discussed matters concerning the future activities of the Parliament.
He observed that the government’s decision to depoliticise independent state bodies had played a hand in being able to conduct a free, independent and fair presidential election.
“The future will deliver the correct verdict for all our activities,” the Prime Minister remarked.
Wickremsinghe recalled that the government had been able to strengthen democracy, freedom of expression, right to information, equality, and unity, while guiding the country towards sustainable development.
He thanked all those who supported and criticised him during his term in office.
A Thai woman walking topless in Arugam Bay town has been arrested by the Police.
The UK government has unveiled a package of reforms to simplify imports from developing countries which allows for more garments manufactured in Sri Lanka to enter the UK tariff-free.
The Cabinet has approved a proposal for Sri Lankans overseas to apply for their passports through an online system via the Lankan diplomatic missions.
Villagers in Nirmalapura, Daluwa, Norochcholai today staged a protest over an incident where a group of Navy officials and sailors had assaulted a resident in the area over night, Police said.
Ajith Gallage, the owner of a Bird Park in Nagarawawa, Hambantota, has been remanded over allegations of concealing illegally imported motorcycles, in a warehouse owned by him.
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