Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was temporarily handed over the reins of the crisis-hit Sri Lanka as Rajapaksa family quit government owing to public anger, has been elected as the 18th President of the island nation on Wednesday.
Wickremesinghe became the new President as he received 134 votes in the secret ballot that was held in Parliament today. 223 Members of Parliament had voted, while 2 MPs had abstained. 219 votes were valid and 4 votes were identified as invalid, Sri Lankan media reported.
MPs Dullas Alahapperuma and Anura Kuma Dissanayake were the two contenders against Wickremesinghe, who he defeated to take over the top post.
Ranil Wickremesinghe, following the resignation of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in the wake of massive protests, was given responsibility of the Prime Ministerial post. However, as public anger against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa grew, followed by him fleeing the country and resigning from the top post, Wickremesinghe was also given the responsibility of acting President.
A secret ballot, as per Sri Lanka’s constitution, was held in Parliament today to elect a new President. The process was initiated in order to complete the remaining tenure of the President.
223 Members of Parliament had voted, while 2 MPs had abstained. 219 votes were valid and 4 votes were identified as invalid, Sri Lankan media reported.
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