But he easily won the secret ballot of lawmakers Wednesday to finish the term of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled the country after protesters stormed his residence last week and resig…
Veteran politician Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s new president Thursday to take charge of a nation bitterly angry he will remain in power amid an unprecedented economic crisis.
His appointment received mixed reactions, with some supporters lighting firecrackers while protesters continued to demand that he resign.VIA REUTERS After Wednesday’s vote, Wickremesinghe called for politicians to work together and pleaded for the country to move on. But protesters flocked to the presidential office instead, chanting, “Ranil, go home!”
“We are the people who sent Gotabaya home, and it’s not a difficult task for us to send you home,” said Tampitiye Sugathananda, a Buddhist monk and protest leader who was outside the presidential office. In some areas, Wickremesinghe’s supporters lit firecrackers and distributed sweets to celebrate his appointment as president, local media reported.
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