Mahinda Rajapaksa sworn in as Prime Minister
Posted on October 26th, 2018
Courtesy Adaderana
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been sworn in as the Prime Minister before President Maithripala Sirisena, a short while ago.
The unexpected announcement comes just minutes after the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) decided to withdraw from the unity government.
UPFA General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera, speaking to Ada Derana, stated that the Speaker of Parliament has been notified of the decision in writing.
President Maithripala Sirisena’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the main constituent party of the UPFA, and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP) had formed a unity government in August 2015 following the general election.
The coalition had grown increasingly strained in recent months. Both coalition partners suffered heavy defeats in local elections in February, and Sirisena loyalists backed a no-confidence motion in April against the prime minister, who survived after a majority of legislators voted to support his coalition government.
October 26th, 2018 at 8:32 am
Wow..! The smartest move ever made by Sirisena.
I wish MR all the best and hope he learnt his lesson well, not to trust his inner circle and appoint idiots and loyalist to key positions, like he did before.
Kudos to Sirisena for doing the right thing.., finally.
October 26th, 2018 at 5:02 pm
Will he release wrongfully arrested soldiers, stop constitution making fraud, use Lord Naseby’s revelations on Sri Lanka, reverse destruction of Buddhist shrines, reduce the cost of living, etc.? Or will he give excuses. Lets see. If not, his clan loses the crucial 2019 presidential election.
As I predicted, Mahinda was in a mighty hurry to become PM.
It may backfire on them. If this messy regime was allowed to continue another 12 months, his party would have had a definite chance of winning the 2019 presidential election. Now Sajith has a big chance of winning it. JVP will come out of its political wilderness by staging crippling strikes against the new regime. Rupee will hit 200 under Mahinda which will be a bad record against him. Rupee hit 100 under Mahinda too.
UNP underestimated the executive president. What Hakeem, Bathurdeen and Thondaman crowd does will be interesting. That will determine the future of the nation.
October 26th, 2018 at 5:04 pm
I still don’t trust Sirisena. I suspect this is another show to sell the country to India. Since Mahinda’s visit to India , I suspected final nail to our coffin was coming.
Ranil made the last attempt to mend relationship but plan was probably full gear by then.
Why did he waited so many years with no action still on bond theft or any theft destroying the country ?
Now they will offer some sweets to people before a general elections further ruining the economy beyond repair which will seal the deal with India.
October 26th, 2018 at 5:10 pm
@ Dilrook,
They will not run for 1 year or even 6 months. He is ready to break all rules. They will hold a general election which will legitimate Mahinda as PM. An election soon is the way to go for them regardless of what would happen to the country.
October 26th, 2018 at 5:14 pm
Hooray! We FINALLY have a PATRIOTIC Prime Minister who will LOVE, PROTECT, DEFEND and EFFICIENTLY DEVELOP our Motherland!
FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST, GOD ALMIGHTY, FREE AT LAST from the Yamapalanaya!
I am ECSTATIC! My DREAMS have COME TRUE!
May the blessings of the Noble Triple Gem, the Lord Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha help this NEW Government RESTORE our Beloved Motherland brought to its KNEES by the Yamapalanaya!
Apita epa eka angalakwath,
Annugey deseka mey Maha Polowey,
Malath nodemu eka angalakwath,
Api ipadunu mey Mau Polowey!
JAYEN JAYEN JAYAWEWA apey aluth Aanduwata!