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Anti-government demonstrators claim Galle Face area was designated agitation site by former Rajapaksa government
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Ranil Wickremesinghe appointed acting President of Sri Lanka
Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country earlier this morning
Photo: AFP
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has authorised the prime minister to carry out presidential duties, the speaker of parliament said on Wednesday after the president fled to the Maldives amid protests.
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said Rajapaksa notified him of the change.
The state run television channel Rupawahini has just been taken over by protesters.
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Remarks come after leader met with Chinese envoy Qi Zhenghong on Thursday
They are not allowed to leave the country until August 11
He also called on lawmakers to come together to form an all-party government
This comes as many Sri Lankans make desperate bids to flee the crisis-ridden island
Wickremesinghe highlighted that the unrest had delayed a possible deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
This year marks the 65th anniversary since the establishment of a diplomatic relationship between the two nations
Former president fled from the country on July 13