Sri Lankan Members of Parliament have elected Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, as the country’s new President, despite his unpopularity with the public.

Mr. Wickremesinghe is facing the task of leading the country out of its economic collapse and restoring order after months of mass protests. He roundly defeated his main rival, Dullus Alahapperuma, for the job with 134 votes to 82 in a parliamentary vote.

Sri Lanka’s ex-President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country last week. According to reports, he bolted to the Maldives and then Singapore after thousands of protesters stormed his presidential residences and other government buildings, calling for his resignation. They also called for the resignation of Mr. Wickremesinghe, a close ally of the Rajapaksa political family who was appointed Prime Minister in May 2022.

Hearing from the Public

On Wednesday, July 20, 2022, many expressed despair and disappointment over his win. One activist, Jeana De Zoysa, who interacted with the media said “I am absolutely disgusted at the result… I cannot believe that 134 people, MPs that are supposed to represent the people, have completely disregarded the wants of the people”.

Mr. Wickremesinghe is viewed by many as a shrewd political operator who managed to cling on in Parliament despite his party losing all but one of its seats in the 2020 election. As a former six-time Prime Minister, he failed in his previous two runs for the Presidency. His victory on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, means he will serve out the rest of the Presidential term until November 2024.

But on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, after sweeping the vote with the backing of the Rajapaksa’s ruling party, he called for unity and bipartisanship moving forward. He disclosed to Parliament that the nation is “in a very difficult situation” and there are “big challenges ahead”.

Reason for Months-long Protests

Sri Lanka has been wracked with protests for months because the country is bankrupt and facing shortages of food, fuel and other basic supplies.

Mr. Wickremesinghe is aiming to restore political stability so the country can resume negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout package. Last month (June 2022), he was involved in these talks and the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramnua (SLPP) party said most of its members backed him because of his economic credentials.

The party’s General Secretary, Sagara Kariyawasam, disclosed to reporters that “We feel that Ranil Wickremesinghe is the only person with the experience, the know-how and the capacity to provide solutions to the economic crisis”.

However, it remains unclear whether he will be accepted by protesters, many of whom said he’s part of the political elite behind the country’s economic mismanagement. On Wednesday, ahead of the results, barricades were set up around the Parliament house, and soldiers lined the perimeter anticipating crowds.