Wickremesinghe takes oath as Sri Lanka''s PM

Colombo, December 16

United National Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on Sunday, ending a 51-day power tussle in the island nation that had crippled the government.

Wickremesinghe was administered the oath of office by President Maithripala Sirisen at a simple ceremony held at the Presidential Secretariat here.

 His appointment comes hours after former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was appointed Prime Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena, resigned Saturday, paving way for the return of Wickremesinghe as premier.

President Sirisena had sacked Wickremesinghe on October 26, in a controversial move which plunged the island nation into an unprecedented constitutional crisis.

Sirisena agreed to reinstate Minister Wickremesinghe in the post after a discussion with him over the phone on Friday.  

“This showed the true character of the President,” he was quoted as saying by the Colombo Gazette.

Premadasa said that the President was “misled by some groups who were against the unity Government” and this resulted in the President removing Wickremesinghe.

“But now truth has prevailed,” he said.

“The party is prepared to work with Sirisena again in the government,” he said.

Premadasa said, “The lessons from the incident must be used to strengthen the foundation of democracy and promote justice and fairness.” UNP General Secretary MP Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said the new Cabinet will be appointed within two days. PTI