Sri Lanka’s Six-time PM Wickremesinghe Elected President

Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka’s six-time prime minister, was resoundingly elected president on Wednesday.

He succeeds Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who resigned and fled the nation last week amid a crisis.

With his main rival Dullas Alahapperuma receiving 82 votes and socialist Anura Dissanayake receiving just three, Wickremesinghe received 134 votes in a three-cornered parliamentary vote.

“Our divisions are now over,” Wickremesinghe said in a brief acceptance speech in parliament.

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He invited Alahapperuma “to join me and work together to bring the country out of the crisis we are facing”.

He stated that he wanted to take the oath of office later on Wednesday.

The 73-year-old’s elevation to the top position results from the dissolution of the current cabinet, and he will now select a prime minister to lead the formation of a new cabinet.

The world was watching the Sri Lankan parliament, according to Speaker Mahinda Abeywardana, as it chose a leader to serve for the remainder of Rajapaksa’s term which ends in November 2024.

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“This is a historic session, not only for parliament but the entire country,” Abeywardana said.

“The eyes of the world are on us today as we elect a new president.”

Days ago, Rajapaksa announced that he would step down after protesters stormed his official residence and set the prime minister’s house on fire.

Neither he nor PM Ranil Wickremesinghe were in the buildings at the time.

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The announcement was following invasion of the capital Colombo by protesters demanding for his resignation.

The protests had been going on for months over alleged economic mismanagement.

The head of state said he will exit office on July 13 while his prime minister also agreed to step down.

The president made the decision to step down, according to the speaker of the House, in order “to ensure a peaceful handing over of power,” as he urged people to “follow the law.”