Highlights
- Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena was the primary to vote
- The 2 senior Rajapaksa brothers – Mahinda and Chamal – had been additionally current through the voting
- Wickremesinghe until Tuesday evening maintained a detailed edge as a number of MPs had pledged their assist
Sri Lanka president election: Performing President Ranil Wickremesinghe was on Wednesday elected as Sri Lanka’s new President by Parliament, following a high-voltage political drama that noticed his predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa fleeing the nation and resigning after a preferred rebellion towards his authorities for mismanaging the financial system.
The 73-year-old six-time prime minister secured 134 votes within the 225-member Home whereas his nearest rival and dissident ruling social gathering chief Dullas Alahapperuma bought 82. Leftist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) chief Anura Kumara Dissanayake secured simply three votes.
The brand new President can have a mandate to serve out the remainder of Rajapaksa’s time period, which ends in November 2024.
This was for the primary time in 44 years that Sri Lanka’s Parliament straight elected a president. Presidential elections in 1982, 1988, 1994, 1999, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2019 had elected them by common vote.
The one earlier event when the presidency turned vacant mid-term was in 1993 when president Ranasinghe Premadasa was assassinated. DB Wijetunga was unanimously endorsed by Parliament to run the stability of Premadasa’s time period.
Ranil Wickremesinghe, dissident ruling social gathering chief Dullas Alahapperuma and leftist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) chief Anura Kumara Dissanayake had been proposed by lawmakers on Tuesday because the three candidates for the presidential election.
It was vital for a candidate to cross the magical determine of 113 within the 225-member Home to win the election. The brand new President can have a mandate to serve out the remainder of Rajapaksa’s time period, which ends in November 2024.
Within the essential election, 223 lawmakers voted whereas two MPs abstained.
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena was the primary to vote. The 2 senior Rajapaksa brothers – Mahinda and Chamal – had been additionally current through the voting.
Sri Lanka President Election: What occurred earlier than voting
Wickremesinghe until Tuesday evening maintained a detailed edge as quite a few MPs had pledged their assist to him whereas his rival Alahapperuma had obtained essential backing from the Opposition events in addition to a majority of lawmakers from his mother or father social gathering – Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).
Alahapperuma’s title was proposed by the Chief of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa and Member of Parliament G L Peiris seconded it.
Wickremesinghe’s title was proposed by the Chief of the Home and minister Dinesh Gunawardena and MP Manusha Nanayakkara seconded it. Dissanayake’s title was proposed by MP Vijitha Herath and MP Harini Amarasuriya seconded it.
Wickremesinghe, 73, was already being seen because the frontrunner as he has the backing of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). Although he confronted a critical problem from 63-year-old Alahapperuma, who was backed by the principle opposition.
The Sri Lanka Freedom Get together (SLFP), the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) had determined to vote for Alahapperuma. Nevertheless, a number of lawmakers mentioned they won’t observe the social gathering line and as an alternative vote for Wickremesinghe.
The Parliament will convene once more on July 27.
(With inputs from PTI)
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