Sri Lanka Crisis: Ranil Wickremesinghe is set to be sworn in as Prime Minister today

Mahinda Rajapaksa, the leader of the far-right United National Party and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, is expected to be sworn in as Sri Lanka’s prime minister at 6:30 pm today. Lanka Mirror According to the report, Bikram Singh held closed-door talks with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa last evening.

After taking his oath, Vikramasinghe will probably visit a temple in Colombo and then take charge of it.

Meanwhile, a Fort Magistrate’s Court on Monday imposed travel bans on Mahinda Rajapaksa, MP Namal Rajapaksa, MP Johnston Fernando and 14 others for investigating an attack on a peaceful protest site.

The order was also passed on MPs Pabitra Waniyarachchi, Sanjeeva Edirimanne, Kanchana Jayaratne, Rohita Abegunavardhane, CB Ratnayake, Sampath Athukorala, Renuka Perera, Sanath Nishantha, Senior DIG Deshbandhu Thennakun.

Earlier today, Gotabaya Rajapaksa said he would consider abolishing the post of executive president in Sri Lanka, a move that could control his powers. The abolition of the acting president, if implemented, could lead to constitutional democracy. This is one of the demands of the Sri Lankan opposition.

President Rajapaksa said on Twitter that steps would be taken to form a new government to “keep the country in anarchy and maintain the status quo.” He added that a prime minister who has a majority in parliament and is capable of gaining the confidence of the people will be appointed this week.

Rajapaksa added that the new government would be empowered to take the country forward and that further steps would be taken to amend the constitution to re-enact the content of the 19th Amendment.

Amid political unrest and tense law and order situation in the island nation, many Sri Lankans have fled Colombo to return to their hometowns. People on the island have been badly affected by the shortage of fuel, food, medicine and other essential supplies. Reuters Report

(Lanka Mirror, with input from Reuters)

Read more: Sri Lanka: President Gotabaya Rajapaksa promises to reduce power, appoint new PM