According to a report by Lanka Mirror, Ranil Wickremesinghe, the leader of the United National Party (UNP), would take oaths as Prime Minister at 6.30 p.m. today.
Following Mahinda Rajapaksa’s resignation on Monday, Wickremesinghe will take oath as the new prime minister, following closed-door talks with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa last evening.
Wickremesinghe will visit a temple in Colombo after taking the oath and then begin his duties.
Here are the top quotes by Sri Lanka’s new prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe
- We need a policy framework which will hold whatever party is in power so there will be peace, prosperity and plenty of employment opportunities,
- Now we must ensure a free and fair election. This is a big victory for democracy.
- What is at stake is not the provincial council elections, but democracy.
- I pledge to you the people, your government will not allow this desperate and irresponsible attempt to undermine the peace process and economic prosperity of the people to succeed,
- Parliament must reassemble. It is the only body with a mandate for negotiations,
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We have to now ensure there are free and fair elections.
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He believed in peace negotiations to solve the ethnic problem.
- By raising our economic growth to 10 percent we will create 3 million jobs, double everyone’s real income and increase income growth more than inflation,
- I therefore call upon all of you, the people, the armed forces, police and public service to remain calm and vigilant in the face of this deliberate attempt of endangering the peace process which we will overcome together.
- The economy is the main issue because people are worried about their stomach. I will place economic development before lasting peace.
