Sri Lankan President Picks Older Brother As Country's New Prime Minister - Reports
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published November 20, 2019 | 10:59 PM
The new president of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was sworn in on Monday, has named his older brother, Mahinda Rajapaksa, as the country's new prime minister, local newspaper The Island reported on Wednesday
This appointment came a few hours after the previous head of government, Ranil Wickremesinghe, resigned along with the governors of all provinces.
The new prime minister is expected to be sworn in on Thursday.
Gotabaya and Mahinda Rajapaksas are members of one of the oldest and most powerful political clans of Sri Lanka. The latter served as president of the island nation from 2005 to 2015.
Sri Lanka held its presidential election on Saturday. Gotabaya Rajapaksa won with 52.25 percent of the vote. His key rival, ruling party candidate Sajith Premadasa, was supported by 42 percent of voters.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa previously served as the country's deputy defense minister. He rose to fame after participating in the defeat of Tamil separatists at the final stage of the civil war, which lasted from 1983 to 2009. Rajapaksa's election promises focused on economic reform and improvements to the country's security system.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
3 Gawadar attack victims funeral offered
Mbappe says he will leave PSG at end of season
Usmani felicitates Sardar Saleem on taking oath as Punjab Governor
DC for provision of facilities to people in Lasbela
Solar storm could bring auroras, power and telecoms disruptions
Court grants interim bail to PTI leaders
Ulema, Mashaykh call for political accountability, collaboration for Pakistan's ..
SHRC asks NADRA to issue CNICs to transgender as per law
Flash floods kill 50 in one day in north Afghanistan
CDA chief expresses commitment to promoting modern-day technologies
By wide margin, UN General Assembly votes to back Palestinian bid for membership ..
Musadik slams PTI's political approach as provocative
More Stories From World
-
Endrick in Brazil's Copa America squad but no Neymar
6 hours ago -
Djokovic bottle strike overshadows Rome Open cruise past Moutet
6 hours ago -
Train crash in Argentine capital leaves 30 injured
6 hours ago -
Pandemic agreement talks to continue beyond deadline
6 hours ago -
Chopra falls short in Doha, Bednarek blitzes before Olympics
6 hours ago -
Djokovic struck with bottle from stands after winning Rome opener
6 hours ago
-
England great Anderson's Test career under threat after McCullum talks - report
7 hours ago -
Senegal launches inquiry into Boeing jet runway crash
7 hours ago -
Madagascan leader's former aide jailed in UK for graft
7 hours ago -
Seven killed as bus crashes into river in Russia's St Petersburg
8 hours ago -
Mbappe confirms he will leave PSG at end of season
8 hours ago -
Fresh rains pound Brazil's flood-hit south as evacuations double
8 hours ago