Sri Lankan lawmakers elected the unpopular prime minister as their new president Wednesday, a choice that risked reigniting turmoil in the South Asian nation reeling from economic collapse.
for protecting Rajapaksa. During demonstrations last week, crowds set his personal residence on fire and occupied his office.
He pleaded for the country to move on: “Now that the election is over, we have to end this division.”“We are very sad, very disappointed with the 225 parliament members who we elected to speak for us, which they have not done,” said Visaka Jayawware, a performance artist in the crowd. “We will keep fighting for the people of Sri Lanka. We have to ask for a general election.”
The protesters accuse Rajapaksa and his powerful family of siphoning money from government coffers and of hastening the country’s collapse by mismanaging the economy. The family has denied the corruption allegations, but the former president acknowledged that some of his policies contributed to Sri Lanka’s meltdown.
After the vote, some supporters celebrated Wickremesinghe’s win in the streets. He will be sworn in Thursday. Hours before Wednesday’s vote, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva told financial magazine Nikkei Asia that the organization hoped to complete the rescue talks “as quickly as possible.”
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Protesters retreat as Sri Lankan president sends resignationCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Protesters retreated from government buildings Thursday in Sri Lanka, restoring a tenuous calm to the economically crippled country, and the embattled president at l…
Read more »
Sri Lankan opposition withdraws from presidential race last-minuteThree candidates have been nominated to replace former Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled the country and resigned last week over the island's worsening economic crisis.
Read more »
Former Sri Lankan prime minister elected president despite pushbackFormer Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was elected as the country’s president on Wednesday after months of protests demanding he and other leaders resign from their governmental positions.
Read more »
Sri Lanka's political turmoil sows worries for recoveryBankruptcy has forced Sri Lanka's government to a near standstill. Parliament is expected to elect a new leader Wednesday, but it's unclear if that's enough to placate a furious nation and angry crowds disillusioned with politicians of all stripes.
Read more »
Business confidence in Sri Lanka has hit rock bottom, says business group chairmanBusiness confidence in Sri Lanka is at its lowest in years, according to the chairman of the Ceylon Chambers of Commerce Vish Govindasamy.
Read more »
Wickremesinghe elected president in crisis-hit Sri LankaCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lankan lawmakers chose six-time Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as president Wednesday to succeed the ousted leader who fled the country in a vote that risks reigniting political turmoil in the troubled South Asian island nation.
Read more »