Mangala quits as Finance Minister

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday announced his resignation following the defeat of New Democratic Front (NDF) candidate Sajith Premadasa in the 2019 presidential race.

“The election yesterday was one of the most free and fair, and in that the people had given a clear decision,” Samaraweera said in his resignation letter to outgoing President Maithripala Sirisena.

“Leaving the final decision to the future, with full respect, I am resigning from my post with effect from November 17.”

Chairman of the Election Commission of Sri Lanka last afternoon declared Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the new president of Sri Lanka.

The swearing in of Rajapaksa is scheduled to take place today in Anuradhapura.