Sri Lanka Swears In New President

Sri Lanka has sworn in Ranil Wickremesinghe in as president, amid hopes that he will pull the country out of its economic suffering.

Mr. Wickremesinghe the former prime minister is seen as deeply unpopular with the public, but some protesters have said they will give him a chance.

He took the oath at the tightly-guarded parliament complex.

Sri Lanka has seen months of mass unrest over an economic crisis.

Many blame the Rajapaksa administration for mishandling the nation’s finances and see Mr. Wickremesinghe as part of the problem. But there were few demonstrations on the streets the day after Mr. Wickremesinghe won the parliament vote.

“He is here – and we will see what his actions are. If we don’t get any food, any medicine, we’ll be on the streets,” one woman who had joined protests last week told the BBC.

Mr. Wickremesinghe – who won a majority among lawmakers with the backing of the Rajapaksa’s ruling party, the Sri Lanka’s People’s Front, SLPP took pains to distance himself from the old leaders.

“I am not a friend of the Rajapaksas. I am a friend of the people,” he told reporters after defeating his main rival SLPP MP by 134 votes to 82.

According to reports, the opposition signalled they would be willing to work with Mr. Wickremesinghe.

However, many protesters have expressed despair and disappointment over a Rajapaksa-allied politician’s victory.

“I am absolutely disgusted at the result, I cannot believe that 134 people MPs that are supposed to represent the people have completely disregarded the wants of the people,” activist, Jeana De Zoysa said.

BBC/CO