Ranil Wickremesinghe elected Sri Lanka President, no let-up in protests

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 20

Sri Lankan Parliament today elected Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe as the President in place of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a development likely to anger anti-government protesters who have been demanding his resignation.

In a three-way contest, the six-time PM received 134 votes in the 225-member House while his main rival and a ruling party rebel Dullas Alahapperuma got 82. The 73-year-old President-elect will take oath of office on Thursday.

Will take all along

I would like to bring everyone together so that a consensus is formed for the way forward. —Ranil Wickremesinghe

India welcomed Wickremesinghe’s election and said it would continue to back Sri Lanka’s quest for stability and economic recovery. At the same time, the Indian High Commission in Colombo said any change should be through democratic means and values, established democratic institutions and constitutional framework. The mission began the day by denying reports of India trying to influence politicians in Sri Lanka about the choice of President. But the thousands of Janatha Aragalaya (people’s movement) demonstrators who have been staging a sit-in for over 100 days were dissatisfied. Claiming that Wickremesinghe “does not have” the support of the people to continue in office, they said the Galle Face protests would continue until he resigned. The protesters also urged the public to continue to ensure the protests were peaceful.

Ranil Wickremesinghe had earlier unsuccessfully contested for President twice. He lost his seat in the 2020 parliamentary elections and his party was allotted one seat on the basis of votes polled nationally.

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