Ranil Wickremesinghe sworn in as Sri Lanka’s new prime miner amid worst economic crisis

Opposition leader and former premier Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn-in as Sri Lanka’s 26th prime miner on Thursday to stabilise the country’s debt-ridden economy and end the political turmoil, a development welcomed India which said it looks forward to working with the new government and reaffirmed its commitment to the Sri Lankan people.
Wickremesinghe was sworn-in as prime miner President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, days after his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa was forced to resign following violent protests over the worst economic crisis in the island nation.

The 73-year-old United National Party (UNP) leader took over as the prime miner as the country was without a government since Monday when Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s elder brother and prime miner Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned after violence erupted following an attack on the anti-government protesters his supporters. The attack triggered widespread violence against Rajapaksa loyals, leaving nine people dead and wounding over 200 others.
“My best wishes to the newly appointed PM of #LKA, @RW_UNP, who stepped up to take on the challenging task of steering our country through a very turbulent time. I look forward to working together with him to make Sri Lanka strong again,” President Gotabaya tweeted along with a picture of him and Wickremesinghe.
Mahinda was quick to congratulated Wickremesinghe, saying that he wishes him all the best as he navigates “these troubled times.” “Congratulations to the newly appointed Prime Miner of #lka, @RW_UNP. I wish you all the best as you navigate these troubled times,” tweeted Mahinda, who is under protection at a naval base following violent attacks on his aides.
Sri Lanka’s new prime miner Ranil Wickremesinghe at a temple in Colombo. (Photo: AP)
The High Commission of India in Colombo said it looks forward to working with new Government of Sri Lanka formed in accordance with democratic processes.
“High Commission of India hopes for political stability and looks forward to working with the Government of Sri Lanka formed in accordance with democratic processes pursuant to the swearing in of Hon’ble @RW_UNP as the Prime Miner of #SriLanka,” it tweeted.
It said that India’s commitment to the people of Sri Lanka will continue.
Members of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), a section of the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and several other parties have expressed their support to show majority for Wickremesinghe in Parliament, sources said.
However, several factions opposed the move to appoint Wickremesinghe as the new Prime Miner.
Wickremesinghe, a lawyer-turned politician who has been in Parliament for 45 years, has served as the prime miner on four previous occasions. He was fired from the post of prime miner then President Maithripala Sirisena in October 2018. However, he was reinstalled as the prime miner Sirisena after two months.

He is widely accepted as a man who could manage the economy with far-sighted policies, and is perceived as the Sri Lankan politician who could command international cooperation.
The UNP, the oldest party in the country, had failed to win a single seat from dricts, including Wickremesinghe who contested from the UNP stronghold Colombo in 2020 parliamentary polls.
He later found his way to Parliament through the sole national l allocated to the UNP on the basis of cumulative national vote. His deputy Sajith Premadasa had led the breakaway SJB and became the main Opposition.
Premadasa, a former deputy to Wickremesinghe, had rejected the President’s original invitation to be prime miner. He had insed that the President must resign as a pre-condition. Premadasa later softened his stance and demanded the President to give a time frame for stepping down. However, the President replied that he would appoint Wickremesinghe as the new premier.
Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence from Britain in 1948. The crisis is caused in part a lack of foreign currency, which has meant that the country cannot afford to pay for imports of staple foods and fuel, leading to acute shortages and very high prices.

In a late night televised address to the nation, President Gotabaya on Wednesday refused to quit but promised to appoint a new Prime Miner and a young Cabinet which would introduce key constitutional reforms to curb his powers.
Gotabaya had said that after appointing the new Prime Miner, and Government a constitutional amendment will be moved to enact the content of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which will vest more powers with Parliament.
Security forces in armoured vehicles patrolled across the country on Wednesday with orders to shoot at sight amid continuing protests at the government’s handling of the worst economic crisis. Army Special Forces’ Combat Riders were also deployed on mobile patrol in Colombo and suburbs.
President Gotabaya earlier urged the public to reject subversive attempts and said it is the time for all Sri Lankans to join hands as one, to overcome the economic, social and political challenges.
The powerful Rajapaksa clan has dominated Sri Lankan politics for years. Gotabaya is the last Rajapaksa family member in office and the resignation of his brother as prime miner did nothing to placate demonstrators or bring calm in the island nation.
As the crisis erupted, Gotabaya sacked his younger brother Basil Rajapaksa. Later, the entire Cabinet resigned, forcing the eldest Rajapaksa, Chamal to quit.