New Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Wickremesinghe thanks PM Modi
Sri Lanka’s new Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said that he wants closer relations with India during his tenure. Along with this, he also thanked India for the financial assistance received from India in the biggest economic crisis after independence. Ranil Wickremesinghe, 73, was elected the 26th Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on Thursday. The new Prime Minister has been selected to stabilize the debt-ridden economy and political crisis.
Ranil Wickremesinghe, pointing to the financial assistance from India, said, “I want close relations and I want to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
His remarks came at a time when a religious ceremony was held yesterday after Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in. India has promised an easy loan of USD 3 billion to the debt-ridden Sri Lanka from January till now.
India on Thursday said that it is willing to work with the new Sri Lankan government following the democratic process and that India is and will remain committed to the people of Sri Lanka.
“PM Modi was not satisfied”
Ranil Wickremesinghe has become the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka for the fifth time. Ranil Wickremesinghe visited India in 2018. According to The Hindu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi at that time expressed concern over the slow pace of joint projects as per the MoU signed between India and Sri Lanka in 2017. Prime Minister Modi had said that he was not satisfied with the response received from the then Sri Lankan government.
Once again, the now 73-year-old United National Party (UNP) leader took oath as the Prime Minister in a country without a government since Monday. President Gotabaya’s elder brother Mahinda Rajapaksa has resigned in the wake of violence that erupted after pro-government protesters attacked anti-government protesters.
The attack sparked public anger against confidants of the Rajapaksa family, and violence left nine people dead and over 200 injured.
Prime Minister Wickremesindhe said that his focus will be on reducing the economic crisis. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said, “I want to leave the solution to this problem. And want to ensure that the supply of petrol, diesel and electricity is ensured to the people.”
When asked whether he would be able to maintain his leadership in the 225-member Parliament. “When it comes to majority, I will prove that too,” he said.
Referring to the nationwide protests, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said that the protest, which has been going on for over a month near President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s secretariat, will be allowed to continue. At the same time, he said that if the protesters want, then I will talk to them.
When asked if he fears that there may be protests against him for abdication, and how will he face it? Responding to this, Ranil Wickremesinghe said, “If I can handle the financial crisis, then I can handle it too.”
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe is heading an interim government in Sri Lanka to which all political parties briefly become parties, followed by parliamentary elections.
