Factbox-Three frontrunners in race to become Sri Lanka's next president

FILE PHOTO: Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe gestures as he speaks during an interview with Reuters at his office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, May 24, 2022. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi/File Photo

COLOMBO (Reuters) - A six-time prime minister, the leader of the main opposition party and a journalist-turned-politician from the ruling party are vying to become Sri Lanka's next president, after the incumbent Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country this week.

Sri Lanka's parliamentary speaker will convene the legislative body after receiving Rajapaksa's official resignation and its 225 members will vote to elect a new president, likely next week.