Ranil Wickremesinghe, the prime minister of Sri Lanka, has been sworn in as acting president as the nation struggles with economic hardship and turmoil.
He succeeds Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who left for Singapore following unprecedented large-scale riots in which the presidential palace was seized by protesters.
A curfew was broken by protesters who wanted to celebrate his resignation at night.
Sri Lanka's economy is in disarray as a result of a severe lack of food, gasoline, and other necessities.
Beginning on Saturday, MPs will begin the process of choosing a new president, with a vote expected to occur within a week. Due to the majority held by the governing party, MPs are anticipated to support Mr. Wickremesinghe, who has ties to the Rajapaksa family.
But because Mr. Wickremesinghe's resignation as prime minister was a major demand of demonstrators, it is unclear if Sri Lanka's populace would accept this.
Crowds broke into the former prime minister's property earlier this week, battling with security personnel.
an exhibitor. At the time, Manuri Pabasari informed the BBC that a protest march against Ranil Wickremesinghe was anticipated within the next few days.
He is a well-known Rajapaksa supporter and lacks the backing of the people, she said. The future president and prime minister shouldn't be Rajapaksa supporters, I mean.
Nandalal Weerasinghe, the governor of Sri Lanka's central bank, has issued a warning that the country may collapse if a stable administration is not quickly created.
He told the BBC's Newsnight programme that there was "a great deal of uncertainty" on whether there would be enough foreign currency available to pay for vital petroleum and that the development of an international rescue package hinged on having a stable government.
Singapore claims that the deposed president Gotabaya Rajapaksa did not request political asylum upon his arrival.
The former president, who came with his wife and two bodyguards, is now in a more hazardous situation as he looks for a secure nation to take refuge in because he no longer has the legal immunity that comes with being the head of state.
According to Sri Lankan security officials who spoke to the AFP news agency, he is anticipated to remain in Singapore for a while before perhaps relocating to the United Arab Emirates.