Sri Lanka on Wednesday chose six-time Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as president of Sri Lanka. He has succeeded the ousted leader, Gotabaya Rajapaksa who fled the country in a vote that risks reigniting political turmoil in the troubled South Asian island nation.
Six-time PM Wickremesinghe received 134 votes in favor in the 225-member legislative body.
Former President Rajapaksa appointed Wickremesinghe as prime minister in May, hoping to bring stability to a country engulfed in its worst economic crisis in memory. Wickremesinghe became acting president after Rajapaksa fled the country last week and resigned by email.
Wickremesinghe, 73, is a seasoned politician with wide experience in diplomatic and international affairs. He has been leading crucial talks on an economic bailout package with the International Monetary Fund and was backed by members of the fragmented ruling coalition. But he is unpopular among voters who view him as a holdover from Rajapaksa’s government.
(With inputs from agencies)
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