Mahinda Rajapaksa sworn in as Sri Lanka’s new Prime Minister

In a sudden political development in Sri Lanka, former President Mahinda Rajapakse was sworn in as new Prime minister of the country replacing Ranil Wickremsinghe.

He was sworn in late evening by President Maithripala Sirisena at his office in Colombo. Earlier, the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) led by President Sirisena has decided to leave the unity government led by Ranil Wicremsinghe.

President 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 elections.

However, there has been growing tensions between the two sides on several policy matters.

President-led UPFA has 23 MPs while rest of 69 support Joint opposition led Mahinda Rajapaksa.