Sri Lanka crisis: Parliament to reconvene on July 15, new President election on July 20

Debt-ridden country Srilanka’s Parliament to reconvene on July 15 and a new President may be elected on July 20, sources reported. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena made the announcement after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa informed him officially that he would resign on July 13, as he promised earlier.

The Speaker had summoned more than 35 political party leaders from both government and the opposition to decide the next steps to appoint an all-party government. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was also at the meeting. According to the Constitution when the post of President is vacated, Parliament should be summoned within three days and announcement should be made calling for nomination to appoint a new President. Meanwhile, Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe has warned that ongoing political instability would worsen the current economic crisis, as it would delay talks for aid, reports said.