Ranil appointed PM

Saturday, 10 January 2015 03:59 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

First signs emerge of unity government President Sirisena keeps first promise of 100-day program UNP Leader Ranil Wickreme-singhe was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister amid loud cheers and emotional scenes at Independence Square in Colombo last evening. President Maithripala Sirisena’s first act upon taking oaths as President was to swear in Wickremesinghe as his prime minister, delivering on the first campaign promise of his 100-day program for change and constitutional reform. Large crowds waving Sri Lankan flags and thronging the historic square cheered frantically for the UNP Leader as he was declared the Prime Minister for the third time in his political career.

The veteran politician had been a pillar of strength to common opposition candidate Sirisena during the month-long presidential campaign, aides said. “We allowed the candidate to campaign and present his policies to the people. Ranil Wickremesinghe played the role of crisis manager and counsellor to the Opposition campaign that was grappling with serious concerns about obstructions to the electoral process,” one Opposition campaign aide told Daily FT. Wickremesinghe had a major role in handling developments and briefing monitors, the Elections Commissioner and the diplomatic community regarding the situation as the campaign hurtled towards polling day, the aide said. Interestingly, outgoing President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who has been a long time colleague of Wickremesinghe in Parliament, also reached out to the UNP Leader, trusting him to ensure the safety of his family during the peaceful transition of power following the election. With former Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne relinquishing office, the Cabinet of ministers which stood in the Rajapaksa presidency stands dissolved according to Article 49 (1) of the Constitution. A new Cabinet of 25 members will be appointed in the next few days.