COLOMBO, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's parliament was informed of on Saturday Gotabaya Rajapaksa's resignation from presidency as his resignation letter was read to the legislators.
Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena convened the parliament to announce that the seat of the president has become vacant.
The parliament is expected to elect a new president on July 20, and nominations for the presidency will be accepted on July 19.
Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake informed the legislators that nominations for the presidency must be submitted to him in writing.
Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was on Friday sworn in as an interim president following the resignation of Rajapaksa and said he himself will contest for the presidency on July 20.
Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and legislators Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Dullas Alahapperuma have also announced their intention to enter the race for the presidency. ■