Ex-PM Wickremesinghe is new Sri Lankan PM
Wont work with Prez Stock index up...
United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was on Thursday sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Sri Lanka amid the worst economic crisis faced by the country that has seen violent antigovernment protests. Wickremesinghe, who has served as Prime Minister five times, was administered the oath of office by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Wickremesinghe has just one seat in the 225-member Parliament and accepted the post of Prime Minister after securing the support of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MPs, the Daily Mirror reported.
Earlier on Thursday, Sri Lanka's Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa said that his party will “devise a strategy” if United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickramasinghe is made the prime minister of the country.
In an exclusive interview with ANI, Sajith spoke about the letter he wrote to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in which he expressed willingness to assume the post of prime minister if demands put forward by his party are met.
“I will not speak on the speculation but if it will happen, we will launch our strategy soon. We are the largest opposition party in the country and we know the political system in the country,” he said, answering a question related to Wickremesinghe.
In a statement issued after the island nation got its new prime minister, the High Commission of India in Colombo said it looks forward to working with the new government formed in accordance with democratic processes.
Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka on Thursday categorically refused to accept any post in a government headed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Fonseka, who is credited with annihilation of the LTTE, strongly condemned any attempt to mislead the public through false propaganda after it was reported that the President had contacted Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP to offer premiership to him.
Sri Lanka's stocks index on Thursday jumped over three per cent after being closed for two days on the speculation of the appointment of a new Prime Minister and political stability in the island nation, dealers said. Market analysts said investors were disappointed with the way the island's politics was moving despite the people's call for transparency and stability.