ANI
13 May 2022, 00:48 GMT+10
Colombo [Sri Lanka], May 12 (ANI): Ranil Wickremesinghe, the leader of the United National Party (UNP) of Sri Lanka, took over as the country's Prime Minister for a record sixth term on Thursday to restore stability in the island nation in the midst of a political impasse and unprecedented economic crisis.
The oath-taking ceremony takes place even as the leader of the Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) head Sajith Premadasa said that his party will "devise a strategy" if UNP leader Ranil Wickramasinghe is made the prime minister of the country.
The tables have seemed to turn in Sri Lankan politics, as just 4 years ago in 2018, Wickremesinghe's fifth term in power was abruptly brought to an end when Sajith Premadasa, then supported by Ranil Wickremesinghe was defeated by Gotabaya Rajapaksa by more than 13 lakh votes in a presidential election.
Although having taken the role of the head of the government on five previous occasions, Wickremesinghe, born in an affluent and well-connected family in 1949, has never completed his term in any of his previous stints.
Wickremesinghe was first elected to the Sri Lankan parliament in 1977 at the age of 28 years winning the Kelaniya-Biyagama electorate, his party United National Party's (UNP) website said.
The following year in September 1978, he was elevated to Cabinet rank by President Jayawardene, as Sri Lanka's first Minister of Youth Affairs and Employment. He was the youngest Cabinet Member in Sri Lanka at the time. While holding this portfolio, he was additionally appointed Minister of Education in February 1980, the website further said.
Having had an early start in politics, Wickremesinghe also had a young start at what would eventually become a number of small stints as the Prime Minister of his country.
In May 1993, Ranil Wickremesinghe became the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka for the first time at a relatively young age of 44.
However, over the course of the next 30 years, the University of Colombo Law graduate was never able to hold on to power for the entirety of his term.
Wickremesinghe's sixth stint in power is unlikely to be a smooth sail either, as he takes over the country, amid large scale violent anti-government protests, a devastated economy as well as a severely fragmented politics.
Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since independence with food and fuel shortages, soaring prices and power cuts affecting a large number of the citizens.
At the same time, the country continues to negotiate with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to bail out its struggling economy.
It is to be seen, how Wickremesinghe assuages the anti-government protestors in the near term, with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the central figure whose ouster is being sought by the protestors, still in place. (ANI)Get a daily dose of Herald Globe news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Herald Globe.
More InformationWASHINGTON, D.C.: U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has announced plans to open more land for oil and gas drilling in Alaska and...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Ten Democratic lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives have asked the Pentagon to reduce military training...
TORONTO, Canada: An initial investigation into last month's dramatic Delta Air Lines crash-landing in Toronto has revealed that the...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: New York State's highest court has struck down a law this week that would have allowed over 800,000 legal...
The death toll in Gaza on the weekend has passed 50,000, local health authorities have reported. What started the carnage was the Hamas-led...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced plans to invest up to US$100 million in research to develop...
New Delhi [India] March 26 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated India's Sepak Takraw contingent for their performance...
Guwahati (Assam) [India], March 26 (ANI): Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and elected to bowl first...
New Delhi [India], March 26 (ANI): The Argentine Football Association (AFA) and HSBC on Wednesday announced the signing of a new one-year...
Wellington [New Zealand] March 26 (ANI): With Tim Siefert's unbeaten 50 and James Neesham's five-wicket haul hosts New Zealand stormed...
ZURICH, 26th March, 2025 (WAM) - In line with the budgetary principles for the FIFA Club World Cup and following fruitful discussions...
New Delhi [India] March 26 (ANI): Pakistan announced their 15-player squad for the forthcoming ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier....