Colombo

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the interim President of Sri Lanka on Friday.

Wickremesinghe was sworn in by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya.

Earlier in the day, Sri Lankan Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena officially announced the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The Parliament would be summoned on July 16 to take nominations for the next President and then to have an election among 225 MPs.

The election for the next President will be held on July 20.

Gotbaya Rajapaksa had e-mailed his resignation to the Speaker, moments after he arrived in Singapore on Thursday night.

Rajapaksa along with his family fled the island nation on Wednesday after protestors occupied his residence following months of protests against the economic crisis in the country.

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Sri Lanka is facing the worst economic turmoil following defaults on repayment of international debts leading to high inflation and a severe shortage of fuel and other essentials including food items.