The acting president of Sri Lanka is the country’s new permanent leader after being chosen in a parliamentary vote.
Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed prime minister in May 2022 but was appointed provisionally to the presidency on 13 July after his predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives.
Sri Lanka is in the midst of an economic crisis and cannot pay for key imports such as food, fuel and medicine.
Mr. Rajapaksa fled after thousands of protesters stormed his presidential residence and other government buildings, demanding his resignation.
Sri Lankans had previously called for Mr Wickremesinghe to step down as prime minister, with protesters torching his private home and storming the prime minister’s office in Colombo.
Mr Wickremesinghe beat his main opponent for the position, Dllus Alahpperuma, by 134 votes to 82.
After his election, the new leader told MPs that Sri Lanka was “in a very difficult situation, and added “we have great challenges ahead”.
He hopes to restore political stability so that Sri Lanka can resume talks with the International Monetary Fund on a bailout package after talks stalled recently.
Ranil Wickremesinghe formerly prime minister
But his election could trigger further protests with opponents calling for Mr Wickremesinghe to step down.
Prior to that, he was prime minister six times and was involved in Sri Lankan politics for 45 years.
About 100 people gathered on the steps of the presidential secretariat, with one protester saying they were “shocked”.
Protester Damitha Abeyrathne said of Mr Wickremesinghe: “He’s a man who handles things in a very wise way.
While some were shocked by the result, others celebrated the decision
Analysis
News from parliament shocked protesters.
MPs voted to replace hated president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was ousted.
The protesters had expected them to vote for a government of national unity.
Instead, they chose a man considered a celebrity of the Rajapaksa clan.
Ranil Wickremesinghe was despised by the protesters.
His election caused frustration and anger – many were left speechless.
What happens next depends on the public’s need for more protest.
Will people stay home and give Wickremesinghe a chance to save their collapsing economy?
Or will they return to the streets by the numbers we saw last week, occupying government buildings again and demanding meaningful change?
“He’s going to start controlling us in a different way. As opponents, we’re going to start our fight all over again.”
Chameera Dedduwage, a former protest organizer, said one of the goals of the movement was to get rid of Mr Rajapaksa, and with that achieved it “will have to be satisfied with its main need”. “.
“Unlike GR, Ranil is not a populist: he is known to be a ruthless pragmatist,” Mr. Dudduwage said.
