Ranil Wickremesinghe Appointed as new PM of Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan President appointed 73-year-old Mr.Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister of the country amid the economic crisis and political instability. He was selected after they held closed-door discussions.

He was appointed for the fifth time to restore stability in the island nation.

He was the Prime Minister of the island nation four times but has never finished a full term. Currently, he is the only Member of Parliament from his party - the United National Party (UNP). He is the leader of the Party since 1994.

He replaced Mr.Mahinda Rajapaksa, as he resigned from his post hours after his supporters violently attacked anti-government protesters. 

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Mr.Sajith Premadasa too said he was willing to form a new government if the President committed to stepping down within “a minimum time frame”.

Earlier he served as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka from 1993 to 1994, 2001 to 2004, 2015 to 2018 and 2018 to 2019 and has served as Leader of the Opposition from 1994 to 2001 and from 2004 to 2015.

He was first elected to Parliament from the Biyagama electorate in the 1977 parliamentary elections and was appointed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

   Important points for the exam:

• Sri Lankan President appointed Mr.Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister of the country for the fifth time amid the economic crisis and political instability.
• He replaced Mr.Mahinda Rajapaksa, who has resigned from the post recently.
• He was appointed for the fifth time to restore stability in the island nation.
• Previously he was the Prime Minister of the island nation four times but has never finished a full term. 
• Currently, he is the only Member of Parliament from his party - the United National Party (UNP).

   Facts to know:

• Sri Lanka an island nation in the Indian Ocean, formerly known as Ceylon.
• Capitals of Sri Lanka: Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.
• President of Sri Lanka: Mr.Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
• The official currency of Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan rupee.