SRI Lanka’s disputed prime minister resigned on Saturday, saying he wanted to end a long political impasse over his appointment and allow the president to form a new government.
Mahinda Rajapaksa signed a letter of resignation at his residence in Colombo, flanked by members of his party and blessed by Buddhist and other religious leaders in the media.
Rajapaksa said in a statement: “Since I have no intention of remaining as prime minister without a general election being held, and in order to not hamper the president in any way, I will resign from the position of prime minister and make way for the president to form a new government.”
It was not clear if the letter had been handed over to President Maithripala Sirisena, who sparked a crisis when he sacked former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in October this year.
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