Poll victor to build Sri Lankan unity government

Incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe will be sworn-in as Sri Lanka’s new Prime Minister today, returning to the office for a fourth term after his party won the closely contested general election.

“On August 17, the people of this country exercising their franchise in the parliamentary election confirmed the January 8 revolution and the good governance we have started”, he said while addressing journalists from his official residence in capital Colombo.

“We want everyone to come together now. We will not allow that”. The win solidifies power for Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, with his party winning 106 of parliament’s 225.

The number falls short of a majority, but a pledge of “issue-based” support from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which holds the balance of power with 16 seats, will allow the party to carry out promised political and economic reforms.

The Prime Minister further said that the opinions and suggestions of civil organizations as well as the religious leaders will be sought for the preparation of the national policy and the parliamentary approval will be sought for its implementation. The veteran reformist was handpicked by President Maithripala Sirisena to lead a minority government after the longtime president Rajapaksa was defeated in January elections.

Rajapakse, whose United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) came second in Monday’s poll with 95 seats, will sit on the opposition benches after conceding Tuesday that his “dream of becoming prime minister has faded away”.

“I will continue to engage in politics, in keeping with the people’s mandate and I will function within parliament to safeguard the nation and the democratic system”, the 69-year-old said in a statement.

Rajapaksa accepted his defeat “with humility” but rebuffed calls by his opponents to retire from active politics. Sources said Mr Wickremesinghe will likely engineer defections from the fractured opposition.

Mr Rajapaksa has long resisted calls for an independent investigation.