The former prime minister, who held five posts, was appointed with the aim of bringing stability to the island nation, a party official said.
Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in Thursday as Sri Lanka’s new prime minister. He replaces the president’s brother, who was forced out on Tuesday after violent protests against the country’s severe economic crisis.
Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed a new head of government as the country faces an acute economic crisis. Politician Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s new Prime Minister on Thursday, May 12. He replaces the brother of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who resigned on Monday after violent anti-government protests.
The country of 22 million people, in the grip of the worst economic crisis since independence in 1948, is running out of dollars to finance the import of basic necessities such as food, fuel and medicine. The widespread shortages have sparked daily protests across the country.
On Wednesday evening, during his first statement to the country since the protests began, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 72, pledged to form a unity government. He promised to “appoint a Prime Minister who will lead a majority in Parliament and inspire the confidence of the people.
