By Kelum Bandara and Yohan Perera 

Parliament will select the next president on July 20 after accepting nominations for it on July 19, a Minister said yesterday.   

Once President Gotabaya Rajapaksa steps down, the Prime Minister becomes the acting President for a brief period. In the event of both the president and the prime minister resigning, the Speaker will hold the post for a short duration till Parliament appoints one of its members as president by majority approval.   

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) announced yesterday that it would nominate its leader Sajith Premadasa to the post.