Sri Lanka’s ousted PM makes a comeback
Wickremesinghe’s shock dismissal in late October threw country into an unprecedented crisis
Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s prime minister yesterday, making a remarkable comeback weeks after being ousted by President Maithripala Sirisena under controversial circumstances.
Wickremesinghe’s reinstatement, which is expected to end a political crisis that began in late October when he was surprisingly sacked, is an embarrassment for the president.
Sirisena had replaced Wickremesinghe with former president Mahinda Rajapaksa following differences over policy matters and other issues. However, Rajapaksa failed to win a parliamentary majority and resigned on Saturday as a government shutdown loomed.
Sirisena had repeatedly said he would not reappoint Wickremesinghe as prime minister. But he had to change his stance to gain parliamentary approval for a temporary budget that is required by January 1.
The swearing-in ceremony was closed to the media and only a few lawmakers from Wickremesinghe’s coalition were present, an official in the president’s office told Reuters. The official did not want to be named.
Sri Lanka’s president yesterday reappointed as prime minister the same man he sacked from the job nearly two months ago, ending a power struggle that paralysed the island nation.
Ranil Wickremesinghe, whose shock dismissal in late October threw Sri Lanka into an unprecedented constitutional crisis, was sworn in at a closed-door ceremony in the president’s office in Colombo.
The 69-year-old had refused to step aside since being dumped and replaced by controversial strongman Mahinda Rajapakse — leaving the country with two men claiming the premiership and no functioning government.
The ousted premier had long asserted his dismissal was illegal, a view supported by Sri Lanka’s parliament which six times voted against Rajapakse’s claim to rule during tumultuous sessions that erupted into brawls.
President Maithripala Sirisena had refused to bow to pressure as the country drifted, declaring he would never reappoint Wickremesinghe and deriding his once-ally in speeches as their alliance imploded.
The acrimony between the two was underscored yesterday when Sirisena berated Wickremesinghe and his supporters at length following the swearing-in, one legislator present said.
After the frosty reception, which Sirisena closed to the press, the reinstated prime minister thanked parliament and “all those who campaigned to restore democracy”.
“The first priority is to restore normality,” he said in a brief address to the nation.
“The work we initiated had been brought to a standstill.”
There was no immediate reaction from Sirisena or Rajapakse, who stood down on Saturday.
But Namal Rajapakse, his son and also a legislator, publicly extended his congratulations to Wickremesinghe.
India welcomed the end to hostilities.