Leader of the United National Party (UNP) Ranil Wickremesinghe is to be sworn-in as the new Prime Minister today (12) with cross-party support in the 225-member parliament, sources at the Presidential Secretariat said.
A group of parliamentarians from the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) met former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe last evening (11) for discussions at the residence of former minister Wajira Abeywardena.
Discussions had centred on the future course of action under the new unity government to be formed under the leadership of Ranil Wickremesinghe.
According to 'lankasara' news website, a senior SJB MP has said that although no MPs representing the minority parties in the SJB coalition were present at the discussions yesterday, they will support an administration led by the former Prime Minister.
The SJB MP has further said that this decision was taken due to SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa's reluctance to accept the premiership and the responsibility of forming a new government.
If not Ranil, who else ?
Meanwhile, a group of activists are campaigning on social media platforms noting that Ranil Wickremesinghe is the only person capable of restoring economic and political stability as dwindling foreign reserves and skyrocketing debt levels have left the country struggling to import products for its 22 million people.
Some of the posts circulating on social media are found below.
