Legislators set to choose within a week after former president flees to Singapore to escape anti-government protests
Sri Lanka’s parliament began meeting on Saturday to begin the process of electing a new president, as a shipment of fuel arrived to provide some relief to the crisis-hit nation.
More than 100 police and security personnel with assault rifles were deployed on the approach road to parliament on Saturday, manning barricades and a water cannon to prevent any unrest. Columns of security forces patrolled another approach road to parliament, though there were no signs of any protesters.
The opposition’s presidential nominee is Sajith Premadasa, while the potential dark horse is senior ruling party legislator Dullas Alahapperuma.
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