IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Sri Lanka

Ex-leader to leave party post

Sri Lanka's former leader Mahinda Rajapaksa has agreed to step down as head of his party, clearing the way for the country's new president to take full control, an aide said on Thursday. President Maithripala Sirisena had been the general secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party but was kicked out of the party ahead of elections after he broke from Rajapaksa in November to become the main opposition candidate.