New Sri Lanka PM Ranil Wickremesinghe promises to restore the economy

New Sri Lanka PM Ranil Wickremesinghe promises to restore the economy.

On Thursday, opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s 26th prime minister. 

Days after, his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa was forced to quit after violent demonstrations over the debt-ridden island nation’s most significant economic crisis.

After closed-door negotiations about forming a new government to handle the economic crisis, the 73-year-old United National Party (UNP) leader took the oath before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at a ceremony in the president’s office.

“Best regards to the newly appointed PM of #LKA, @RW UNP, who has taken on the onerous duty of guiding our nation through a difficult period. I am looking forward to collaborating with him to rebuild Sri Lanka. 

“President Gotabaya posted a photo of himself and Wickremesinghe on Twitter.

After his inauguration, Wickremesinghe vowed to resolve the national crisis and revitalize the island nation’s economy.

Since Monday, Sri Lanka has had no government when Mahinda Rajapaksa, Gotabaya’s older brother, and prime minister, resigned when violence erupted after his supporters assaulted anti-government protestors. 

The incident sparked widespread violence against Rajapaksa supporters, killing nine people.

Mahinda immediately complimented Wickremesinghe and wished him well as he navigated “these trying circumstances.” “@RW UNP, the newly appointed Prime Minister of #lka, deserves congratulations. 

I wish you the best of luck as you navigate these trying times. “Following violent assaults on his aides, Mahinda is being protected in a naval facility.

The Indian High Commission in Colombo said that it looks forward to cooperating with the new Sri Lankan government, constituted via democratic procedures.

“The High Commission of India wishes for political stability and looks forward to working with the Government of Sri Lanka, which was constituted via democratic procedures after the inauguration of Hon’ble @RW UNP as Prime Minister of #SriLanka,” it said in a tweet.

India’s commitment to the people of Sri Lanka, it said, will remain. According to reports, members of the governing Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), a segment of the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), and numerous other parties have voiced support for Wickremesinghe obtaining a majority in Parliament.

Several groups, however, oppose Wickremesinghe’s appointment as Prime Minister.