As the island struggles to cope with its political and economic crises, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said on Wednesday that he will appoint a new Prime Minister with a parliamentary majority and a Cabinet of Ministers within a week.
“I am taking steps to form a new government to control the current situation and prevent the country from descending into anarchy,” he said in a televised address, two days after his older brother Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned as Prime Minister amid violent attacks by ruling party supporters.
Mr. Gotabaya also met with former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday and discussed the possibility of appointing him as Premier if a majority of lawmakers in Parliament support the move, according to sources familiar with their conversation. Mr. Wickremesinghe is considering the option, according to a reliable source who asked not to be identified due to the sensitivity of the talks, which are taking place in the midst of a severe economic crisis and ongoing political gridlock.
Mr. Wickremesinghe is currently the lone parliamentarian of the United National Party, which split after his former deputy Sajith Premadasa formed the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB or United People’s Force), which is now the main Opposition party. Mr. Premadasa, the opposition leader, has stated that he will not accept any position under President Gotabaya, who is widely despised, as citizens struggle to meet basic needs such as food, fuel, cooking gas, and medicines. They blame the Rajapaksas for the country’s economic collapse and their misery.
If willing, Mr. Wickremesinghe will need support from both the ruling and opposition camps to gain a majority in the 225-member legislature and form government. Mr. Gotabaya, who has been widely chastised for his “failed” crisis response, would still be his boss. Citizens groups across the country have been agitating for months, demanding his resignation, and demonstrators have been protesting near his sea-facing office in Colombo for more than a month.
Mr. Gotabaya also promised to amend the Constitution to give Parliament more powers, something Mr. Mahinda had proposed in Parliament just weeks before resigning. The proposal would effectively undo legislation passed by his government that gave the Executive President more power and immunity.
“I will give the new government and PM the opportunity to begin a new programme to move the country forward,” Mr. Gotabaya said. The President stated that once “stability” is restored, he will discuss abolishing the Executive Presidency, which is one of the main demands of anti-government protesters and opposition parties.
