Colombo: Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka’s new Prime Minister, has expressed his desire for better connections with India during his term and praised India for its economic help as the country grapples with its worst economic crisis since independence.
On Thursday, 73-year-old Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s 26th Prime Minister, with the goal of stabilising the country’s debt-ridden economy and ending political unrest.
“I want a closer relationship and I want to thank Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi,” Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said, referring to the Indian economic assistance to his country.
India said on Thursday that it looks forward to working with the new Sri Lankan government, which was created through democratic processes, and that New Delhi’s commitment to the island’s people will remain unchanged.
The country has been without a government since Monday, when President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s elder brother and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa quit after violence erupted following his supporters’ attack on anti-government protestors.
The attack sparked widespread violence against Rajapaksa supporters, with nine people killed and over 200 more injured.
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe stated that his priority was to address the economic situation.
“I want to settle this problem to ensure the supply of petrol, diesel and electricity to the people,” Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said.
Sri Lanka is in the midst of its biggest economic crisis since its 1948 independence from the United Kingdom. A lack of foreign currency has contributed to the issue, since the country has been unable to pay for imports of basic goods and gasoline, resulting in severe shortages and exorbitant costs.
Asked if he could sustain his premiership in the 225-member Parliament since he only has only one seat, he said: “I will prove the majority when it comes to that”.
Referring to the island-wide protests, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said the main protest near president Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s secretariat for over a month now would be allowed to continue.
“I will talk to them (protesters) if they are willing,” he said.
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