Gotabaya Rajapaksa has resigned as president of Sri Lanka after fleeing to Singapore in the face of mass protests at home over his rule.
Photo: AFP
The cost of food, fuel and other basic supplies has soared for Sri Lankans.
In the capital Colombo, delighted demonstrators greeted news of the president's departure with dancing.
"We are beyond happy but also beyond relieved so we can take a break and go back to our lives," Viraga Perera told the BBC.
"At this stage we are so exhausted because of all the flip-flopping, that we consider this moment substantial enough as a victory."
Rajapaksa arrived in Singapore on Thursday after first flying to the Maldives on Tuesday night. Reports say he is accompanied by his wife and two bodyguards.
Singapore's foreign ministry said Mr Rajapaksa had not asked for asylum or been granted asylum. "Singapore generally does not grant requests for asylum," it added.
The acting president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, does not formally become interim president until he is sworn in.
After that, Wickremesinghe - who was appointed acting president by President Rajapaksa after the latter fled - has 30 days for parliament to endorse him. If they do not, MPs need to hold a vote for a new president.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrived in Singapore on Thursday after first flying to the Maldives. Photo: AFP / Pool / Andy Buchanan
The resignation letter was sent by email to the speaker of parliament, who said he would complete legal processes and announce it officially on Friday.
It has left some confused as to where they stand.
"Earlier they fooled us [in saying] that he would go. It's the same thing happening now, they have received the resignation letter but the speaker says they have to legalise it. I don't know what there is to legalise. So it's really crazy," said Suzette Fernando, who was among the crowds celebrating.
However, the crowds appeared smaller than before. Wickremesinghe on Thursday imposed a curfew for a second day to quell protests.
The streets of Colombo were calmer as anti-government demonstrators began leaving some of the official buildings they had occupied.
"We are peacefully withdrawing from the presidential palace, the presidential secretariat and the prime minister's office with immediate effect, but will continue our struggle," said a spokeswoman for the protesters.
One person died and 84 others were injured during Wednesday's protests, which took place at key landmarks around the capital, Colombo, including the prime minister's office.
Major demonstrations since April over the country's economic crisis escalated after protesters broke into the presidential palace on Saturday and set fire to the prime minister's private home.
On Wednesday, police fired tear gas at protesters attempting to break down the gates of the prime minister's office in Colombo, before finally forcing their way in. They later headed for parliament but did not get in.
By Thursday, protesters had handed back the president's official residence to the authorities when the BBC visited. There were no protesters at parliament on Thursday afternoon, a BBC correspondent confirmed.
"We captured this building to show people power. We give it back the way we captured it and leave. We will come back in the next minute if needed," Danish Ali, a protester at the prime minister's office, told BBC Tamil.
Many blame the Rajapaksa administration for mishandling the crisis and see Wickremesinghe, who became prime minister in May, as part of the problem.
The president's departure has created a threatening power vacuum in Sri Lanka, which needs a functioning government to help dig it out of financial ruin.
Politicians from other parties have been talking about forming a new unity government, but there is no sign they are near agreement yet. It's also not clear whether the public will accept what they come up with.
- BBC
