INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Newly appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has officially assumed duties at the Prime Minister’s Office. Wickremesinghe was
sworn-in as Sri Lanka’s 26th Prime Minister on Thursday to stabilise the country’s debt-ridden economy and end the political turmoil.The
73-year-old United National Party (UNP) leader took over as the prime minister as the country was without a government since Monday when
Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned as PM after violence erupted following an attack on the anti-government protesters.Prime Minister Wickremesinghe
said his focus was limited to tackling the economic crisis.“I want to settle this problem to ensure the supply of petrol, diesel and
electricity to the people,” Prime Minister Wickremesinghe had said.Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since gaining
The crisis is caused in part by a lack of foreign currency, which has meant that the country cannot afford to pay for imports of staple
foods and fuel, leading to acute shortages and very high prices.“I will do the job that I have undertaken to do”.Asked if he could
sustain his premiership in the 225-member Parliament since he only has only one seat, he said: “I will prove the majority when it comes to
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://adaderana.lk
