Colombo: Newly elected President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, while expressing his resolve to bring about a change in the system of governance, told the countrymen that he is not a friend of the Rajapaksa family but of the people. Wickremesinghe, who took over as Prime Minister in May in Sri Lanka, which is facing an unprecedented economic crisis, was sworn in as President on Thursday. He now has the biggest responsibility of handling the country’s economy in this new role, removing economic turmoil and reuniting a divided country.
Wickremesinghe has been in Parliament for 45 years and is acknowledged in political circles as a man who can manage the economy with visionary policies. Wickremesinghe, 73, had also visited one of Colombo’s oldest Buddhist temples, the Gangaram temple, on Wednesday after being elected president. Wickremesinghe was made acting president after Gotabaya Rajapaksa left the country and resigned from the presidency. He is the first President of Sri Lanka elected by the Parliament according to the Constitution.
Wickremesinghe’s victory could once again worsen the situation as many anti-government protesters consider him close to the previous Rajapaksa government. The protesters blame the Rajapaksa family for the current crisis in the country. Soon after Wickremesinghe was elected President, hundreds of protesters gathered from place to place. When asked how Wickremesinghe will be separated from the Rajapaksa family as he is their old friend.
The new president said, “How am I an old friend of the Rajapaksa family? I have been opposing them.” “I am not a friend of the Rajapaksa family, I am a friend of the people… I have previously worked with former President Chandrika Kumaratunge. She belonged to some other party and I belong to another party. For me, working with the president of another party does not mean that I am their friend.” The President said that he will bring about the change that the people want and it is also necessary.
Wickremesinghe said he was looking at the opportunity to strengthen his United National Party. He also commented on the protesters entering and vandalizing historic government buildings here on July 9. He said that it is illegal to forcibly occupy the office of the President and the office of the Prime Minister and legal action will be taken against those involved in such illegal activities. Significantly, the protesters also burnt down the private residence of Wickremesinghe.
Wickremesinghe said, “Aragalaya (people’s struggle) was against the system. We should never use the Aragalaya to topple the government, set houses on fire, and capture important offices. This is not democracy but it is illegal.” “We should allow people who are peacefully protesting to protest. We can also talk to them.”
