Ranil sworn as Prime Minister for sixth time

Leader of United National Party (UNP) Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the new Prime Minister in front of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa this evening. This is the sixth time the UNP leader is assuming duties as the country's Prime Minister. 

As sole Parliamentarian of UNP through the National List, Mr Wickremesinghe was engaged in discussions with President on taking up the Premier post after former PM Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned from his post due to pressure on the government due to mass protests. 

"Congratulations to the newly appointed Prime Minister of #lka, @RW_UNP. I wish you all the best as you navigate these troubled times."- said former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on his official Twitter handle.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa wrote to President earlier this evening putting forward four conditions before taking up the post of PM of an interim government. One of the conditions was to set a timeline to vacate from Presidency as mass 'Gota Go Home' protests' were staged calling for the resignation of President Rajapaksa for poor governance and mismanagement of the economy. 

The 20 member Cabinet is expected to assume duties tomorrow. 

26th Prime Minister of Sri Lanka- Ranil Wickremesinghe

This is the sixth time PM Ranil Wickremesinghe assumed duties as Prime Minister and 26th Prime Minister of the country. From 2015- to 2019, he held the office under Good Governance government led by former President Maithripala Sirisena. 

He is the youngest politician to become the Cabinet Minister in J. R. Jayawardene's government in 1977. 

Earlier he served as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka from 1993 to 1994, 2001 to 2004, 2015 to 2018 and 2018 to 2019 and has served as Leader of the Opposition from 1994 to 2001 and from 2004 to 2015.

He entered the Parliament under the National list in 2021 as the sole Parliamentarian of the United National Party after the party failed to return a single MP from electorates.