Sri Lanka‘s parliament will hold a vote on July 20 to elect a new president, its speaker has said, to replace President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who has promised to resign by Wednesday.

The statement on Monday, July 11, 2022, comes after protesters stormed the residences of the current president and prime minister, prompting both officials to go into hiding  amid an economic meltdown.

The process of electing a new president involves calling for nominations among members of the 225-seat parliament, which should be submitted on July 19, and the vote would be held the following day.