President-elect Ranil Wickremesinghe sworn in as 8th Executive President of SL

President-elect Ranil Wickremesinghe sworn in as the 8th Executive President before Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya inside the Parliament complex today morning.

Political leaders including former Presidents - President Mahinda Rajapaksa, President Maithripala Sirisena and Parliamentarians from both government and Opposition took part in the ceremony. 

Following the ceremony, President Wickremesinghe accepted the military honour by Tri- forces personnel within the premises of the Parliament.

Diplomats and foreign dignitaries congratulated the new President on his elevation to the highest office of the country. 

US Ambassador for Sri Lanka Julie Chung said: “We look forward to working with new President Ranil Wickremesinghe. In these challenging times, it will be essential for all parties to redouble efforts to work together to tackle the economic crisis, uphold democracy & accountability, and build a stable & secure future for all Sri Lankans,”

 Mr Wickremesinghe was elected as the 8th Executive President of Sri Lanka by Parliament yesterday (20) by a comfortable margin of 52 votes. 

Mr Wickremesinghe received 134 votes while his main challenger Dullas Alahapperuma, who had been fielded jointly by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and a faction of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), received 82 votes. National People's Power (NPP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake received three votes. 

The vote took place in the background of the area surrounding Parliament being turned into a fortress due to heavy security. Police, Special Task Force, Army and Special Forces personnel had been stationed around the area surrounding Parliament. Armored cars had also been brought in while boats patroled the Diyawanna Oya. 

All 225 MPs including Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena were entitled to vote at the election. Of these, 223 MPs voted, with the two MPs from the Ahila Ilankai Thamil Congress (AITC); namely Party Leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam and MP Selvarajah Kajendren choosing to abstain. Four of the total votes cast were found to be invalid. Accordingly, the President was elected by the count of 219 valid votes.