Sri Lanka crisis live updates | Protesters retreat, await confirmation of Gotabaya’s resignation

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled Sri Lanka, emailed his resignation letter Thursday night, sparking celebrations in Colombo

After Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa emailed his resignation letter Thursday night, protesters in the island nation retreated from the government buildings they had occupied as the country battles a crippling economic crisis.

The Parliamentary Speaker’s office deferred an official announcement to Friday in order to verify the “authenticity and legality” of the document.

Mr. Gotabaya, who rose to power in 2019 on a thumping election win, fled the country and sought refuge on two other islands, as mass anti-government protests rapidly escalated last weekend. Early on Wednesday, he was flown to the Maldives by a Sri Lankan military aircraft. He reached Singapore on Thursday evening, the country’s Foreign Ministry confirmed.

Mr. Gotabaya was allowed entry into Singapore “on a private visit”, the city-state’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. “He has not asked for asylum and neither has he been granted any asylum,” the Ministry said.

Parliament will not be convened on Friday as was announced, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena’s office said, owing to the delay in the receipt of the President’s resignation letter.

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As word of the resignation spread, jubilant crowds gathered near the president’s office to celebrate. Dozens of people danced and cheered and waved the Sri Lankan flag, and two men sang in Sinhalese on a small stage.