Ousted ruler blames his fall on Covid

SRI Lanka’s ousted president blamed Covid and years of economic misrule from before his leadership for his country’s crisis.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation letter was revealed in parliament yesterday after he fled to Singapore last week.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is the front runner in the search for a replacement after he was sworn in as temporary leader on Friday.

Protesters had stormed the presidential residence after months of rampant inflation and fuel ran out.

Businesses and shops reopened in the capital Colombo yesterday after a curfew ended, but soldiers were still on streets.