Wickremesinghe reinstated as Sri Lanka prime minister

Sri Lanka’s president has reappointed Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister, nearly two months after firing him and setting off weeks of political stalemate.

Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP) said on its official Twitter account that the deposed leader took oath before President Maithripala Sirisena on Sunday.

His reinstatement is an embarrassment for Sirisena, who had replaced him with former president Mahinda Rajapaksa following differences over policymaking and other issues.

However, Rajapaksa failed to win a parliamentary majority and resigned on Saturday as a government shutdown loomed.

Sirisena had vowed to never reappoint Wickremesinghe – who he publicly castigated in speeches in recent weeks – as prime minister under his watch.

The acrimony between the two was underscored Sunday when Sirisena barred journalists from attending the swearing-in ceremony – leaving it to Wickremesinghe’s legislators to announce the appointment.  

“We thank the citizens of the country who fought the illegal seizure of power and ensured that democracy was restored,” the UNP said on Twitter. 

Large crowds of supporters and we’ll wishers gather at Temple Trees to welcome back to office Hon. @RW_UNP.#lka #SriLanka #coupLK pic.twitter.com/kkpLD5Ptgm

— UNP (@officialunp) December 16, 2018

Rajapaksa’s son, Namal, a legislator, congratulated the reinstated prime minister in a Twitter post. 

“I hope at least now he will towards ensuring the sovereignty of this country and more so address issues of our people more than Western interests,” he said.

Politics aside I would like to congratulate @RW_UNP being appointed as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. I hope at least now he will work towards ensuring the sovereignty of this country and more so address issues of our people more than Western interests.

— Namal Rajapaksa (@RajapaksaNamal) December 16, 2018

There was no comment from Sirisena

The president suffered a huge setback when the highest court in the country ruled last week that he acted outside the constitution when he sacked parliament in early November.

The court also confirmed Friday that Rajapaksa and his purported cabinet could not exercise the powers of the office they held.

A spokesman for Wickremesinghe said he was expected to form a cabinet in the coming days, with priority given to the 2019 budget, without which foreign debt servicing may not be possible.  

Sri Lanka had been braced for a government shutdown as parliament failed to approve spending for 2019, and ratings agencies downgraded the country’s credit rating amid fears of a sovereign debt default.

Sirisena came to power in 2015 on a pledge to uphold democracy and stamp out corruption. However, his popularity has been hit by a crisis many say he triggered because of personal differences with Wickremesinghe.