Sri Lanka’s President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has swore in a new Prime Minister on Thursday, May 12, 2022, to replace his resignee-brother, after protesters launched violent attacks against the nation’s “unaffordable” economic crisis.
The new Premier, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has already served in the office five times, but it remains unclear if he will be able to get any legislation through parliament. The 73-year-old will be tasked with navigating Sri Lanka through the worst economic downturn in its history since independence, with months of food, medicine and fuel shortages, as well as blackouts inflaming public anger.
A spokesman for President Rajapaksa, Sudewa Hettiarachchi, disclosed to the media that “A cabinet is likely to be appointed tomorrow”.
Playing Smart Over Resignation
In a televised address to the nation on Wednesday (May 11, 2022) night, President Rajapaksa stopped short weeks of countrywide protests calling for his resignation. But in his bid to win over opposition lawmakers demanding he quit, Rajapaksa, 72, rather pledged to give up most of his executive powers and set up a new cabinet this week.
Mahinda Rajapaksa, the President’s brother, resigned as Prime Minister on Monday, May 9, 2022, after his supporters attacked peaceful anti-government demonstrators who protested for weeks. This marked a turning point that unleashed several days of chaos and violence, which led to the death of about nine people, leaving over 200 injured. The chaos also resulted in dozens of Rajapaksa loyalist homes being set on fire.
A Court Order
On Thursday, May 12, 2022, a Court banned Mahinda, his politician son, Namal Rajapaksa, and more than a dozen allies from leaving the country after ordering an investigation into the violence.
“Congratulations to the newly appointed Prime Minister,” Mahinda tweeted from the Trincomalee Naval Base on the country’s Eastern Coast, where he took refuge after fleeing the capital, Colombo. “I wish you all the best as you navigate these troubled times.” Security Forces patrolling in armoured personnel carriers with orders to shoot looters on sight have largely restored order. The nation’s curfew was lifted Thursday (May 12, 2022) morning, only to be reimposed after a six-hour break, allowing Sri Lanka’s 22 million people to stock up on essentials.
Warning of a Collapsed Economy
Report has shown that Sri Lankans suffered months of severe shortages of food, fuel and medicine, as well as long power cuts, after the country burnt through foreign currency reserves needed to pay for vital imports. The Central Bank Chief warned on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, that the economy would “collapse beyond redemption” unless a new government is urgently appointed.
Ranil Wickremesinghe is seen as a pro-West free-market reformist, who is potentially making bailout negotiations with the International Monetary Fund and others smoother. With many from Rajapaksa’s party already defected in recent months, no group in the 225-member assembly has an absolute majority, which will make parliamentary approval of the unity government’s legislation potentially tricky.
It also remains to be seen whether a new cabinet will be enough to calm public anger if Rajapaksa continues to resist calls for his resignation. “What he has done is despicable, he has brought all of us to this state of hunger and poverty,” A small business owner in Colombo (Sri Lanka’s capital), Abu Nawaz, said: “What is the point of keeping him as the president?” he added. “Will this end our miseries?”.
An official who is close to ongoing conversations revealed that President Rajapaksa and the new Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe have both been working closely before his appointment in a bid to shake up the Finance Ministry and the Central Bank with sweeping policy changes.
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