Ranil Wickremesinghe, 73, has been elected the 9th President of Sri Lanka. He was voted to the country’s top job not by the people but by members of Parliament to finish the remainder of the term of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. His elevation is not likely to end the ongoing political crisis in Sri Lanka and may be expected to further enrage protestors who forced Rajapaksa out of office. The 73-year-old Wickremesinghe will serve the remaining term of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, which ends in 2024.
Why does this happen?
Wickremesinghe will replace Gotabaya Rajapaksa who fled the country and resigned after public anger over the country’s worst economic crisis exploded on the streets 10 days ago. Indeed, the bulk of Wickremesinghe’s support came from the Rajapaksas’ Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party which witnessed a split within its ranks, but not enough to dent Wickremesinghe’s candidature.
He defeated Dullas Alahapperuma, a rebel leader of the SLPP who was backed by the Opposition. Wickremesinghe, who has previously lost two Presidential elections and even his MP seat, will be the 8th Executive President of Sri Lanka.