Sri Lanka’s new leader urges parties for bipartisanship
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's President-elect Ranil Wickremesinghe will take oath of office on Thursday, it was announced on Wednesday, as he called for support from all parties to overcome the country's worst economic crisis in decades.
The 73-year-old Acting President and six-time former prime minister was on Wednesday elected as new President by Parliament, a development likely to anger anti-government protesters who have been demanding his resignation.
In his victory speech, Wickremesinghe thanked Parliament for upholding democratic practices and sought support from both the presidential rivals as well as former presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena. He also asked Tamil leaders to join him.
"I need not tell you about the current state of the country, how difficult it is. The economy and the young are asking for change. There are many problems in the world. We have to go forward without getting entangled," he said.
Wickremesinghe said all concerned must get together to "make a new programme".
"What people demand from us is not old politics, they want the parliament to work together, he added.
He said he was willing to start the party consultation process from Thursday and urged the parties for bipartisanship.
"I have worked in this Parliament for 45 years. My life is this Parliament. I am thankful to parliament for giving me this honour, Wickremesinghe said.
He requested the Speaker to allow him to take oath in Parliament which none of his predecessors had done.
He has two and a half years of the balance Rajapaksa term. The next presidential election would take place in November of 2024.