WEB DESK
Sri Lanka’s former President Mahinda Rajapaksa will be sworn in as new Prime Minister today after the incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe decided to resign from his post to pave way for a caretaker government.
A Spokesman for Mr Rajapaksa said, the swearing-in will take place in the afternoon after Mr Wickremsinghe formally tenders his resignation.
Earlier, Mr. Wickremsinghe said, he will submit his resignation to President tomorrow after a farewell to his office staff.
He said that while his government still has the majority in Parliament, it was decided to respect the mandate given to Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa during the Presidential election and step down.
The decision follows the defeat of his party’s candidate Sajith Premadasa at the Presidential elections held on Saturday.
Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa, elder brother of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had demanded the resignation of the government saying they have lost the mandate of the people. He will lead a caretaker government till snap Parliamentary elections are held next year.
A meeting of party leaders this week will discuss holding of Parliamentary elections.
Meanwhile, a tussle has begun between supporters of Mr Wickremsinghe and Mr Sajith Premadasa over control of the United National Party (UNP).
The latter are putting the blame of Mr Sajith’s defeat on Mr. Wickremsinghe and calling upon to quit as the leader of the party. A former Minister and MP said, the blame for the shortcomings of the government were laid on Mr Sajith Premadasa.
It was countered by Mr Wickremsinghe’s side that Mr Premadasa conducted a separate campaign outside the party hierarchy.
