And the military warned Thursday that it had powers to respond in case of chaos - a message some found ominous.ДЄbeywardana, the speaker of Parliament, urged the public to вЂњcreate a peaceful atmosphere in order to implement the proper parliamentary democratic process and enable all members of Parliament to participate in the meetings and function freely and conscientiously.вЂќ

Sri Lanka remains a powder keg, its economy in ruins. At the main protest site in front of the presidentвЂ™s office in Colombo, people welcomed his resignation but insisted Wickremesinghe also should step aside. Protesters cooked and distributed milk rice - a food Sri Lankans enjoy to celebrate victories - after Rajapaksa resigned. вЂњWe are happy as a collective effort because this struggle of Sri Lanka was participated by all the citizens of Sri Lanka, even diaspora of Sri Lanka,' he said. Jeewantha Peiris, a Catholic priest and protest leader, said the country had 'come through a hard journey.вЂќ The protests underscored the dramatic fall of the Rajapaksa political clan that has ruled Sri Lanka for most of the past two decades. Its rapid economic decline has been all the more shocking because, before this crisis, the economy had been expanding, with a growing, comfortable middle class. Sri Lanka has run short of money to pay for imports of basic necessities such as food, fertilizer, medicine and fuel for its 22 million people. That should be done through proper constitutional, legal, democratic procedures,вЂќ Premadasa said. That is our function - catching those who looted Sri Lanka. In an interview with The Associated Pres s from his office, Sajith Premadasa said that if he wins the election in parliament, he would ensure that вЂњan elective dictatorship never, ever occursвЂќ in Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, Sri LankaвЂ™s opposition leader, who is seeking the presidency, vowed to вЂњlisten to the peopleвЂќ and to hold Rajapaksa accountable. The prime minister's office said Wickremesinghe was sworn in Friday as interim president Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya. Wickremesinghe became acting president after Rajapaksa fled Sri Lanka on Wednesday, flying first to the Maldives and then to Singapore. We will take legal action against insurgents,вЂќ he said. 'There is a big difference between protesters and insurgents. It was unclear to whom he was referring, although he said true protesters would not have gotten involved in clashes Wednesday night near Parliament, where many soldiers reportedly were injured. In a televised statement, Wickremesinghe said he would initiate steps to change the constitution to curb presidential powers and strengthen Parliament, restore law and order and take legal action against вЂњinsurgents.вЂќ After Rajapaksa resigned, pressure on the prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, was rising. The new president could appoint a new prime minister, who would then have to be approved by Parliament. As people celebrated in the streets, Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana promised a swift and transparent political process that should be done within a week.

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