Five-time former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe reappointed on Thursday
Colombo (Sri Lanka) -Five-time former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe returned to position on Thursday. An effort to bring stability to the island nation, engulfed in a political and economic crisis.
Wickremesinghe, a contentious choice by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, took his oath in a ceremony at the president’s residence. Protesters have blocked the entrance to the president’s office for more than a month.
Following violent attacks by supporters on peaceful anti-government protesters, the president’s brother, Mahinda Rajakapsa, resigned as prime minister on Monday. His resignation resulted in the dissolution of the Cabinet, which created an administrative vacuum.
The government negotiated a bailout package with the International Monetary Fund. And the president’s choice of Wickremesinghe is an attempt to end the violence and restore international credibility.
For months, Sri Lankanswere forced to queue for hours to purchase scarce necessities, with many going home empty-handed.
After taking his oath, Wickremesinghe went to a Buddhist temple, there told the journalists that he will work both with opposition and the ruling party an seek solutions to the people’s issues.
Authorities deployed armored cars and troops in the streets of the capital on Wednesday. Nine people dead and over 200 injured. After attacks on protesters ignited a wave of violence across the country,
A strict national curfew that began Monday evening. Sporadic acts of arson and vandalism continued. Security forces ordered to shoot people suspected of participating in the violence.
On Thursday a court barred former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his son, and 15 others from leaving the country. Charged for pending the outcome of investigations into Monday’s attack on peaceful protestors demanding the resignation of the Rajapaksa brothers.
Which have sparked nationwide violence against Rajapaksa supporters.In the midst of the violence, Mahindra Rajapaksa resigned.
Protesters were calling for the Rajapaksa brothers’ resignations . The country nearly bankrupted it and caused severe shortages of fuel, food, and other necessities.
some opposition politicians and religious leaders criticised Wickremesinghe’s appointment claiming citizens wanted broad reforms.
Opposition lawmaker Anura Dissananayake said the choice of Wickremesinghe was aimed more at protecting the president and his family from public anger over corruption allegationsand his role in the economic crisis than it was in solving the country’s problems.
When he was previously prime minister from 2015 to 2019, Wickremesinghe was accused of protecting the powerful Rajapaksa family from allegations of corruption and other wrongdoing.
Buddhist and Catholic clergy also objected to Wickremesinghe’s selection.
“This decision has been taken totally disregarding the aspirations of the people who are protesting today. The protests can only get worse by this decision,” said the Rev. Omalpe Sobitha, a senior Buddhist monk.