The political veteran Ranil Wickremesinghe swore this thursday like new Sri Lankan Prime Ministerat a time of acute crisis and massive demonstrations.
Wickremesinghe, 73swore before the president Gotabaya Rajapaksawhich is facing popular calls for resignation as a result of the worsening of the economic crisis that has been shaking this island of 22 million inhabitants in southern India for months.
Sri Lanka suffers from shortages of food, fuel and medicine and the economy was on the verge of collapse after it declared a suspension of debt payments in April.
Frequent shortages of all kinds cause daily manifestations.
The new prime minister – who He has held this position five times.– has a tough job getting any legislation through parliament.
“The cabinet will probably be appointed tomorrow,” Sudewa Hettiarachchi, a spokesman for the president, told AFP.
On Wednesday, in his first speech since the crisis began, Rajapaksa brushed aside any calls for him to step down and promised the new government would have more executive powers.
“I am going to appoint a prime minister who is going to lead the parliamentary majority and the confidence of the people,” said the president.
Former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, the president’s brother, resigned on Monday after his supporters attacked peaceful protesters.
This confrontation left at least nine dead and more than 225 injured, according to the police.
A court in Colombo barred the departure of the former prime minister, his son Namal and 15 of their allies during the course of the investigation.
This Thursday, the authorities temporarily lifted the curfew to allow the population to collect essential products, but the ban was reinstated six hours later.
Wickremesinghe is seen as a Western-oriented reformer who can carry out the International Monetary Fund’s bailout negotiations with ease.
“His appointment as Prime Minister and the swift formation of an inclusive government are the first steps in dealing with the crisis,” US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung said on Twitter.
The main opposition party, the SJB formation, was initially invited to lead a new government, but its leader Sajith Premadasa insisted that the president must step down.
In recent days, the party has split and a dozen opposition lawmakers have pledged to support Wickremesinghe.