The Indian Panorama

Tag: Mahinda Rajapaksa

  • Ranil Wickremesinghe returns as Lankan PM

    Ranil Wickremesinghe returns as Lankan PM

    COLOMBO (TIP): Opposition leader and former premier Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn-in as Sri Lanka’s 26th Prime Minister on Thursday, days after his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa was forced to resign following violent protests over the worst economic crisis in the debt-ridden island nation.

    The 73-year-old United National Party (UNP) leader took oath before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at a ceremony in the President’s office after they held closed-door discussions over formation of a new government to address the economic crisis. “My best wishes to the newly appointed PM, who stepped up to take on the challenging task of steering our country through a very turbulent time. I look forward to working with him to make Sri Lanka strong again,” President Gotabaya tweeted along with a picture of him and Wickremesinghe.

    Sri Lanka was without a government since Monday when Gotabaya’s elder brother and former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned after violence erupted following an attack on the anti-government protesters by his supporters. The attack triggered widespread violence against Rajapaksa loyalists, leaving nine dead.

    Mahinda quickly tweeted a congratulatory message to Wickremesinghe. He is under protection at a naval base following violent attacks on his aides. Members of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and some from the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and several other parties said they would back Wickremesinghe in Parliament, according to reports. However, several factions opposed the move to appoint Wickremesinghe as the new Prime Minister.

    Four-time PM

    Wickremesinghe, a lawyer-turned politician who has been in Parliament for 45 years, has served as PM on four previous occasions. He was fired from the post by then President Maithripala Sirisena in October 2018. He was reinstalled after two months

    He is widely accepted as a man who could manage the economy with far-sighted policies, and is perceived as the Sri Lankan politician who could command international cooperation

    Ex-PM of Sri Lanka sends wishes

    Congratulations to the newly appointed Prime Minister. I wish you all the best as you navigate these troubled times. — Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Lanka PM

    India hopes for political stability

    The High Commission of India hopes for political stability and looks forward to working with the Government of Sri Lanka formed in accordance with democratic processes. India’s commitment to the people of Sri Lanka will continue. — Indian High Commission

    President of India congratulates

    My best wishes to the newly appointed PM, who stepped up to take on the challenging task of steering our country through turbulent times. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Lanka President.

    (Source: PTI/TNS)

  • Sri Lanka crisis: PM Mahinda Rajapaksa offers to hold talks with protesting youths

    Sri Lanka crisis: PM Mahinda Rajapaksa offers to hold talks with protesting youths

    Colombo (TIP): Amid rising protests in Sri Lanka over the unprecedented economic crisis, Prime Minister MahindaRajapaksa on Wednesday offered to hold talks with the agitators who are demanding resignation of President GotabayaRajapaksa and all members of his family from the government. The protests entered its fifth day on April 13 and since it began on Saturday, it was carried out round the clock by youths demanding a total transformation of the “corrupt political culture”, which they claim has been prevailing in the island nation since it gained independence from Britain in 1948.

    According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Rajapaksa is willing to hold discussions with the protesting youths who are camping at Galle Face esplanade located near President Gotabaya’s secretariat.

    The Prime Minister has said if the protesters are ready for talks, he would extend an invitation for their representatives to meet for discussions, the statement noted.

    The youths are demanding that President Gotabaya and his entire family—who are all part of the government—should quit, while their alleged ill-gotten wealth be brought back to the country to pay the debt.

    Prime Minister Mahinda is the elder brother of President Gotabaya. Basil, the youngest, was holding the finance portfolio till he was sacked earlier this month by the president amidst the economic crisis. The eldest brother, Chamal, controls the agriculture ministry and nephew Namal is the sports minister.

    The protest campaign has been running on social media, urging youths to gather at Galle Face. Besides, there have been continuing protests across the island, blaming the government for its mishandling of the forex crisis which led to severe shortages of essentials.

    President Gotabaya who got his ministers to resign as a response to public dissatisfaction failed to win support for his call on the Opposition parties to join a unity Cabinet.

    The main Opposition, meanwhile, announced that its leader SajithPremadasa has signed three motions which would soon be tabled in Parliament—a motion of no trust, an impeachment motion against President Gotabaya and a motion to repeal 20 amendments which had given him absolute power as president in 2020.

    MaithripalaSirisena, the former president and a member of the ruling partner Sri Lanka PodujanaPeramuna (SLPP), told reporters Tuesday night that they would no longer attend political talks with the government.

    They had proposed an 11-point plan, including the formation of an all-party interim government, to overcome the current political impasse.

    Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence from the UK in 1948. People have been protesting for weeks over lengthy power cuts and shortage of fuel, food and other daily essentials.

    President Gotabaya has defended his government’s actions, saying the foreign exchange crisis was not his making and the economic downturn was largely pandemic driven by the island nation’s tourism revenue and inward remittances waning.(PTI)