Sri Lankan PM Rajapaksa to resign today

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa will resign today to pave the way for formation of new government under ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremsinghe.

His son Namal Rajapksa said the resignation will follow an address to the nation. He added that Mr. Rajapksa party will work with others under a broad coalition. 

Earlier, the Supreme Court had refused to vacate interim order of lower court restraining Rajapaksa and his Cabinet from functioning. A Presidential advisor



confirmed that Mr. Wickremsinghe will be appointed as the Prime Minister by Monday and President Maithripala Sirsiena has reportedly agreed to it.

The political crisis began in the country on October 26 when the President appointed Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister replacing Mr. Wickremsinghe.

Later, Mr. Rajapaksa failed to prove his majority in Parliament and thereafter Parliament passed several motions against his government.