181216 Reuters Ranil Wickremesinghe
Ranil Wickremesinghe Image Credit: Supplied

Colombo: Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe formally announced his resignation Wednesday, four days after his party suffered a humiliating defeat at presidential polls.

In an address to the nation, Wickremesinghe said he had informed new president Gotabaya Rajapaksa that he will step down Thursday, allowing a new minority government to be formed.

Sri Lanka's new president named brother Mahinda as PM, says official.