Sri Lankan president to appoint new PM, cabinet this week

Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Wednesday promised that a new prime minister and cabinet will be named this week, hours after the central bank chief warned that the economy will “collapse” unless a new government is urgently appointed. The president, in an address to the nation, said he make the new appointments to restore political stability and also promised constitutional changes to give more power to the parliament, a long-held demand of protesters. President Rajapakse said to "control the current situation, and prevent the country from heading towards anarchy", he would appoint a Prime Minister and Cabinet this week "that can command a majority in Parliament and can gain the confidence of the people of the country".

"Thereafter, a constitutional amendment will be moved to enact the content of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which will vest more powers with the parliament. The new government's Prime Minister will be awarded the opportunity to produce a new programme and take this country forward," he added. Acknowledging that the country is passing through a "very serious crisis", Rajapaksa said he has conducted discussions with various parties and accepted the common proposal for the creation of a new government.

President Rajapaksa has held talks with the country's former Prime Minister and current member of parliament, 73-year-old Ranil Wickremesinghe. There were two closed-door meetings with Mr Wickremesinghe before and after Rajapaksa delivered the address, government sources said. There is a buzz that an agreement has been reached and Mr Wickremesinghe might be the next Prime Minister as an interim measure.

While the largest opposition party has refused to join any government headed by a member of the Rajapaksa clan, Mr Wickremesinghe heads the United National Party. The present members of principal opposition in Sri Lanka was with UNP before breaking and forming SJB (currently the opposition) before the 2020 general elections.