RANIL WICKREMESINGHE IS ELECTED AS SRI LANKA’S NEW PRESIDENT

Wed 20 July 2022:

In the midst of its worst financial crisis, Sri Lanka’s current acting president Ranil Wickremesinghe was chosen to lead the island nation.

Wickremesinghe received 134 votes in the 225-member parliament, according to the secretary-general of the house, making him the new president.

The parliament chose a new president in a vote that took place earlier on Wednesday morning.

A total of 219 votes were found valid. While four votes were found invalid, two lawmakers abstained from Wednesday’s voting.

Three candidates were in the race to become the next president.

Sri Lanka’s acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe faced the opposition-backed Dullas Alahapperuma and Anura Kumara Dissanayake during the secret ballot vote.

Alahapperuma, who won 82 votes, is a former education minister and a dissident member of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party, which is controlled by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa clan. Rajapaksa fled the country and resigned last week amid mass protests.

The third candidate was Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the National Peoples’ Power party, which has only three members in parliament. Dissanayake won three votes in total.

Last week, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the country’s interim president after Rajapaksa fled the country.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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