Sri Lanka Crisis: Gotabaya Rajapaksa steps down as President

Sri Lankan authorities on Thursday lifted the curfew, which was imposed in the Western province after the eruption of violence in the capital here, even as President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who has fled to the Maldives, was yet to submit his resignation letter. Meanwhile, Rajapaksa, who fled to the Maldives, is still waiting for a private aircraft to fly to Singapore amid protests. Follow DH for live updates.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa steps down as President

Our ties with Sri Lanka are historic and comprehensive and we continue to engage with all relevant stakeholders in that country: MEA

Gotabaya has not been granted asylum in Singapore, says Foreign Ministry

Plane carrying Sri Lankan president lands in Singapore

A plane carrying Sri Lanka's president arrived in Singapore from the Maldives Thursday, according to AFP reporters, a day after he escaped to the atoll nation.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, his wife Ioma and their two bodyguards were on board the Saudia airline plane, which landed at Singapore's Changi Airport at 7:17 pm local time(1117 GMT).

Sri Lanka army says soldiers authorised to use necessary force to prevent destruction of property and life

Sri Lankan soldiers had been authorised to use necessary force to prevent destruction of property and life, the country's army said in a statement on Thursday.

Sri Lanka protesters to end occupation of official buildings

Sri Lanka's anti-government demonstrators said Thursday they were ending their occupation of official buildings, as they vowed to press on with their bid to bring down the president and prime minister in the face of a dire economic crisis.

Protesters overran President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's palace at the weekend, forcing him to flee to the Maldives on Wednesday, when activists also stormed the office of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

One dead, 84 injured in Sri Lanka protests

One person died and 84 others injured in anti-government protests in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, media reports said. The 26-year-old man died from breathing difficulties after police lobbed teargas at protesters to disperse them, BBC reported.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa leaves from Male to Singapore in a special aircraft, reports Sri Lankan media.

The Sri Lanka government has imposed a curfew in Colombo district from 12 noon on July 14 to 5 am on July 15.

Protesters in Sri Lanka say they will leave official buildings, reports AFP.

Sri Lanka protesters in talks to end occupation

Sri Lanka's anti-government demonstrators were in talks Thursday to hand back official buildings they seized, protest representatives said, even as they insisted the president and prime minister both quit in the face of an economic crisis.

Protesters overran President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's palace at the weekend, forcing him to flee to the Maldives on Wednesday, when activists also stormed the office of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.(AFP)

Private jet arrives in Maldives to transport Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to Singapore, reports Sri Lanka's DailyMirror.

Protestors continue to remain inside the premises of Sri Lanka's PM office in Colombo

Gotabaya Rajapaksa still in Maldives, awaits private jet to depart for Singapore: Report

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who has fled to the Maldives, could not board a scheduled Singapore Airlines flight from Male to Singapore due to security concerns and is now waiting to travel on a private aircraft, according to a media report on Thursday.

Rajapaksa, the 73-year-old leader who had promised to resign on Wednesday, appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the acting President hours after he fled the country, escalating the political crisis and triggering a fresh wave of protests.(PTI)

Sri Lanka lifts curfew, no signs of Rajapaksa's resignation

Sri Lankan authorities on Thursday lifted the curfew, which was imposed in the Western province after the eruption of violence in the capital here, even as President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who has fled to the Maldives, was yet to submit his resignation letter.

Rajapaksa, the 73-year-old leader who had promised to resign on Wednesday, appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the acting President hours after he fled the country, escalating the political crisis and triggering a fresh wave of protests.

At least 84 people were hospitalised when protesters clashed with the security forces at the prime minister’s office and at the main access junction to Parliament since mid-afternoon on Wednesday after Rajapaksa fled the country.(PTI)

Sri Lanka awaits president's resignation after flight

Sri Lankans waited for the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday, a day after he fled to the Maldives to escape a popular uprising against an economic crisis blamed on his government's mismanagement.

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Under pressure to quit, Wickremesinghe asks Speaker to nominate PM who is acceptable to all

Sri Lanka's Acting President and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday asked Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to nominate a Prime Minister who is acceptable to both the government and the Opposition.

In a statement, the Prime Minister's Office said that Prime Minister Wickremesinghe held a meeting with the Members of the Cabinet at his office on Monday.

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Protesters raid Sri Lanka PM's office after president flees abroad

Protesters inSriLankadefied tear gas, water cannon and a state of emergency to storm the prime minister's office on Wednesday after the country's embattled president fled overseas, with the crowd demanding both men step down in the face of an economic crisis.

UN urges 'peaceful and democratic' transition in Sri Lanka

It is important that the root causes of the conflict and protestors’ grievances are addressed. I urge all party leaders to embrace the spirit of compromise for a peaceful and democratic transition, says UN Secretary-General António Guterres