Friday, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as Sri Lanka's interim president until Parliament elects Gotabaya Rajapaksa's successor. Rajapaksa resigned after widespread protests over the country's economic collapse forced him out of office.

The Speaker of Sri Lanka's Parliament announced Rajapaksa's resignation as president effective Thursday, and MPs will assemble on Saturday to elect a new leader. According to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, their selection would complete Rajapaksa's term, which expires in 2024, and he anticipates completion within seven days.

This individual might designate a new prime minister, who would then be subject to approval by Parliament. With Rajapaksa eliminated, the pressure on Wickremesinghe increased.

Wickremesinghe stated in a televised announcement that, during his brief term, he would take steps to amend the constitution to limit the president's authority and strengthen the legislature. He also stated that he would restore law and order and prosecute "insurgents."

Wickremesinghe, referring to the clashes near the Parliament on Wednesday evening, during which numerous soldiers were reportedly hurt, stated that genuine protestors will not engage in such actions.

"There is a significant distinction between protestors and rebels. He stated, "We will take legal action against insurgents."

Opponents interpreted the May selection of Wickremesinghe as prime minister as reducing the pressure on Rajapaksa to resign. When Rajapaksa fled Sri Lanka on Wednesday, he became the acting president.

Rajapaksa arrived in Singapore on Thursday, the day his resignation became official. According to the prime minister's office, Wickremesinghe was sworn in as interim president before Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya on Friday.

To the dismay of its 22 million inhabitants, Sri Lanka has run out of money to pay for essential needs such as food, fertilizer, medication, and fuel imports. Its swift economic decline is all the more stunning because, before this catastrophe, the economy was expanding, and the middle class was growing.

After Rajapaksa's resignation, protesters cooked and distributed milk rice, a dish Sri Lankans use to celebrate triumphs. People at the leading protest site in front of the president's office in Colombo, the capital, applauded his resignation but said Wickremesinghe should also stand down.

"I am glad Gotabaya has finally departed. As national songs blared from loudspeakers, Velayuthan Pillai, 73, a retired bank employee, remarked, "He should have resigned earlier, without causing too many problems."

However, he continued, "Ranil supports Gotabaya and other Rajapaksas. He was assisting them. He must also depart."

Thursday, protesters who had taken government buildings withdrew, returning a fragile peace to Colombo. As a result of the splintered political opposition in Parliament, a resolution to Sri Lanka's numerous problems appeared further away than ever.

Wickremesinghe recently stated that the country is seeking assistance from the International Monetary Fund and other creditors. Still, its finances are so dire that even receiving a bailout has been impossible.

The country remains a powder keg, and the military cautioned Thursday that it could intervene in the event of anarchy, a message that alarmed some.

Abeywardana pledged a speedy and open election process for the next president.

"I request the honorable and loving citizens of this country to create a peaceful environment in order to implement the proper parliamentary democratic process and allow all members of Parliament to attend meetings and function freely and conscientiously," he said on Friday.

The demonstrators accuse Rajapaksa and his powerful political family of draining government coffers for years and hastening the country's economic collapse through poor financial management. The family has rejected corruption claims, but Rajapaksa has admitted that some of his actions contributed to Sri Lanka's collapse.

Maduka Iroshan, a 26-year-old university student and demonstrator, stated that he was "thrilled" that Rajapaksa had resigned because he had "shattered the hopes of the young generation."

Rajapaksa and his wife escaped in the middle of the night aboard a military plane on Wednesday morning. Thursday, he traveled to Singapore, according to the Foreign Ministry of the city-state. It was stated that he had not sought asylum.

Since Sri Lankan presidents are immune to arrest while in office, Rajapaksa presumably desired to depart while he still possessed constitutional immunity and access to the plane.

It was initially unclear whether Singapore would be Rajapaksa's final destination, but he had previously sought medical treatment there, including heart surgery.