On Monday morning, when Anura Kumara Dissanayake was elected as the nation’s new president, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena tendered his resignation.

As per the country’s constitution, Gunawardena said in his resignation letter that he was standing down following Dissanayake’s election as the country’s ninth executive president.

Dissanayake was congratulated by Gunawardena on winning the election.

I humbly congratulate you on being elected as the ninth Executive President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in the presidential election held on Sept. 21, 2024.

“By carrying on with the work we have done to recover and lift the country and the countrymen from the difficult and challenging situation the country faced, I hope you would be able to provide welfare to the people,” he remarked.