Sri Lankan PM resigns following new president elected

COLOMBO, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena submitted his resignation on Monday morning following Anura Kumara Dissanayake's election as the country's new president.

In his resignation letter, Gunawardena stated that with the election of Dissanayake as the ninth executive president of Sri Lanka, he is stepping down in accordance with the country's constitution.

Gunawardena also extended his congratulations to Dissanayake on Sunday night, following his victory in the election.

"I respectfully congratulate you on being elected as the 9th Executive President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in the presidential election held on Sept. 21, 2024," he said in a statement.

"I hope that you as the president will be able to provide welfare to the people by continuing the work we have done to recover and lift the country and the countrymen from the difficult and challenging situation Sri Lanka has faced," he said in his message.