COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe will be the nation’s next president till 2024, a parliament vote rely showed on Wed (Jul 20).
Official outcomes showed Wickremesinghe polled 134 votes within a three-cornered vote to replace Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled the crisis-wracked country plus retired last week .
Wickremesinghe’s main challenger Dullas Alahapperuma got 82 votes plus leftist Anura Dissanayake just three — giving him an absolute majority on 1st preferences.
“Our divisions are now over, ” Wickremesinghe mentioned in a brief approval speech in parliament, inviting Alahapperuma “to join me and work together to bring the country out of the crisis we are facing”.
“Our country is dealing with massive challenges and we have to work on a brand new strategy to fulfill the dreams of the people, ” he added.
Wickremesinghe said he hoped to be sworn in later Wed at a simple wedding ceremony within the tightly guarded parliament building.
With the elevation from the 73-year-old to the top job, the current cupboard automatically stands dissolved and he will choose a prime minister to form a new cabinet.
Speaker Mahinda Abeywardana said the attention from the world was centered on the Sri Lankan legislature as it selected a leader to provide the balance period of Rajapaksa’s term ending Nov 2024.
“This is a historic program, not only for parliament but the entire country, ” Abeywardana stated. “The eyes of the world are on all of us today as we choose a new president. ”
Wickremesinghe a lawyer who served because Sri Lanka’s primary minister a record 6 times had run unsuccessfully for chief executive twice before, but he secured sufficient votes among lawmakers despite controlling only one seat – as leader of the United National Party.
His experience in senior government jobs, and a reputation like a shrewd operator that will earned him the nickname “the fox”, should count in their favour as he seeks a way out of Sri Lanka’s devastating recession.
Wickremesinghe has additionally recently negotiated with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and likes a working relationship along with key donor countries including India.
Whether he can quell mass protests that led to the ouster of the previous president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, remains to be seen.