Crisis-hit Sri Lanka appoints new PM
Wickremesinghe has built relationships with regional powers India and China, key investors and lenders
The new Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, 73, has been in parliament for 45 years. He has wide international connections and is seen as a capable negotiator. He is the leader of the United National Party (UNP) since 1994 1993 to 1994
2001 to 2004
2015 to 2015 (100 days) 2015 to 2018
2018 to 2019
Wickremesinghe was leader of the oppn from 1994 to 2001 and from 2004 to 2015
His political party split in 2020 amid a leadership crisis and most senior members left to form a new party, which is currently the country’s main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) led by Sajith Premadasa, son of late president Ranasinghe Premadasa
Wickremesinghe’s greatest challenge yet. Economic mismanagement, the Covid-19 pandemic and rising energy costs following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have drained state coffers, meaning Sri Lanka is running low on fuel and essential medicines and facing daily power blackouts.
Rajapaksa, whose elder brother Wickremesinghe replaced as prime minister, has called nationwide curfews and given security forces sweeping powers to shoot at anyone involved in looting or putting
Wickremesinghe’s reputation was damaged during his previous term as PM, when he was in a difficult power sharing arrangement with then president Maithripala Sirisena. An internal conflict and communication breakdown between him and Sirisena was blamed for intelligence lapses that led to Easter Sunday suicide bomb attacks in 2019 that killed more than 260 people
Wickremesinghe was also accused of shielding a friend he appointed as head of the Central Bank from allegations of insider trading
people’s lives at risk.
Some opposition politicians and religious leaders objected to Wickremesinghe’s appointment, saying citizens wanted sweeping reforms. Opposition lawmaker Anura Dissananayake said the choice of Wickremesinghe was more about protecting the president and his family from public anger over his role in the economic crisis than solving the country’s problems.
US envoy to Sri Lanka Julie Chung said she is looking forward to working with Wickremesinghe,
and his appointment and the quick formation of an inclusive government are first steps to addressing the crisis.
Court bars Mahinda from leaving the country Mahinda Rajapaksa, the ex-pm has been barred from leaving the country by a local court. The travel ban has also been imposed on Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son and former minister Namal Rajapaksa, and some members of parliament, News Wire reported citing sources.