Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed as acting President on Wednesday after Gotabaya Rajapaksa along with his wife fled to the Maldives amid massive protests that have gripped the country facing an economic crisis, PTI reported.
Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena announced that President Rajapaksa had appointed Wickremesinghe to perform his functions while he was abroad. "This was under article 37(1) of the Constitution," he said.
Reacting to the appointment, Sri Lanka LoP Sajith Premadasa said, "PM becomes acting President only if President appoints him, his office falls vacant, or CJ in consultation with Speaker forms view that President is unable to act. Without these, PM can't exercise President's power and can't declare a curfew."
Massive protests rocked the island country on Wednesday as agitators gathered outside the Prime Minister's office at Flower Road in Colombo and residence, propmting Wickremesinghe to declare a state of emergency in the country. A curfew has also been imposed in the western province. He has also ordered the security forces to arrest people acting in a riotous manner.
READ | Sri Lanka Declares Emergency As President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Flees
Visuals showed Sri Lankan police using tear gas outside the premises of PM Ranil Wickremesinghe's residence in Colombo to disperse the protesters. Sounds of gunshots fired in the air were also heard.
The protesters broke through a barricade despite tear gas and stormed the prime minister's office, calling for his resignation. Earlier, Wickremesinghe had said he would resign and make way for an all-party government to take over.
Meanwhile, a statement from the Sri Lanka Air Force said Gotabaya Rajapaksa flew to the Maldives with his wife and two security officials. They arrived in the capital Male at around 3 am on Wednesday, BBC reported. On Saturday, Rajapaksa had announced to step down on Wednesday after thousands of protesters stormed his official residence.
Rajapaksa, who enjoys immunity from prosecution while he is president, fled Sri Lanka before resigning to avoid the possibility of arrest by the new government, PTI reported.
Amid media reports that it facilitated the escape of Rajapaksa to the Maldives, the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka called them "baseless and speculative".
"It is reiterated that India will continue to support the people of Sri Lanka as they seek to realize their aspirations for prosperity and progress through democratic means and values, established democratic institutions and constitutional framework," the India mission tweeted.