Sri Lanka’s president-elect vowed on Wednesday to take tough action against anyone resorting to what he called the undemocratic means that led to his predecessor’s ouster.

Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe says he is confident that Sri Lanka can come out of this severe economic crisis within a period of 05 months. “We have a clear program and a clear path,” he added.

The International Monetary Fund hopes to complete rescue talks with Sri Lanka “as quickly as possible,” Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Wednesday, hours before the crisis-hit South Asian nation elected a new president.

The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s court today issued an order preventing anyone from reaching within a 50 metre radius of the S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike statue located at the Galle face in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Ranil Wickremesinghe has won the Presidential election held in Parliament and elected as the 8th Executive President of Sri Lanka with a majority of votes.

Security has been tightened on all the entrances to the Parliament of Sri Lanka and around Galle Face Green ahead of the voting to elect the new President of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka’s parliament will choose between three candidates for president on Wednesday, hoping the new leader will be able to pull the island out of its worst economic and political crisis since independence in 1948.

Sri Lanka is facing “a very serious crisis” that makes India naturally worried, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar told an all-party meeting on Tuesday (July 19) and dismissed suggestions about such a situation arising in India.

The Union of Independent Parties led by MPs Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila has decided to back Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Dullas Alahapperuma in the election in parliament to elect a new President tomorrow (July 20).

Sri Lanka’s main opposition leader withdrew from the presidential race on Tuesday and promised support to a low-profile politician from the ruling party who will take on acting president Ranil Wickremesinghe in a tight contest.

Sri Lanka’s Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Dullas Allahapperuma will contest for the presidency tomorrow in Parliament of Sri Lanka.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has decided to withdraw his presidential nomination and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will support Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Dullas Allahapperuma in the Presidential election in Parliament of Sri Lanka tomorrow (July 20).

Sri Lanka’s Parliament is meeting at 10:00 AM today (July 19) to accept nominations for the office of President which remains vacant following the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa last week.

Sri Lanka’s acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe has said the country’s previous administration was “covering up facts” about its crippling financial crisis.

Sri Lanka’s Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe today (July 18) stated that the absence of a proper Easter Sunday investigation has meant that this issue has still not been fully resolved and he is requesting the assistance of the UK Government and their intelligence services.

A pregnant woman and her 10-year old daughter had died and four others were seriously injured when a car hit a moving train at an unprotected railway crossing of Magalla Gangarama road in Galle this morning (July 18).