# Wickremesinghe, a wily political survivor, elected Sri Lanka’s president Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-07-20 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Ranil Wickremesinghe makes history with presidential win in Meta Description: Discover how Ranil Wickremesinghe made history by becoming Sri Lanka's president after securing a parliamentary vote, despite facing public opposition. URL: https://financedigest.com/wickremesinghe-a-wily-political-survivor-elected-sri-lankas-presidenthtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-07-20t075940z1lynxmpei6j0bdrtroptp4sri-lanka-politics-1736815565961-compressed.jpg) By Devjyot Ghoshal and Uditha Jayasinghe COLOMBO (Reuters) -Ranil Wickremesinghe, a lawyer who served as Sri Lanka’s prime minister a record six times, has finally made it to the top job, securing the presidency after winning a parliamentary vote on Wednesday despite fierce public opposition to his candidacy. “I thank parliament for this honour,” the 73-year-old said after his victory was announced by the secretary-general of the legislature. He secured 134 votes in the 225-member house, while his main rival, [ruling party](https://www.financedigest.com/japans-ruling-party-is-set-for-likely-bruising-in-weekend-election.html "Japan’s ruling party is set for likely bruising in weekend election") lawmaker Dullas Alahapperuma, got 82. Wickremesinghe’s [rise to power](https://www.financedigest.com/fortum-says-rising-costs-of-nordic-power-trading-are-worrying.html "Fortum says rising costs of Nordic power trading are “worrying”") is remarkable. He has run unsuccessfully for [president twice before but secured enough votes among lawmakers despite controlling just one seat](https://www.financedigest.com/moderate-bosniak-candidate-leads-in-race-for-presidency-seat.html "Moderate Bosniak candidate leads in race for presidency seat") – as leader of the United National Party (UNP). His experience in senior government positions, and a reputation as a shrewd operator, should count in his favour as he seeks a way out of [Sri Lanka’s](https://www.financedigest.com/doctors-bankers-protest-impossible-situation-as-sri-lanka-runs-out-of-fuel.html "Doctors, bankers protest ‘impossible situation’ as Sri Lanka runs out of fuel") devastating economic crisis. Our country is [facing massive challenges](https://www.financedigest.com/under-saved-and-underprepared-women-face-challenges-saving-for-retirement.html "UNDER-SAVED AND UNDERPREPARED: WOMEN FACE CHALLENGES SAVING FOR RETIREMENT") and we have to work on a new strategy to fulfill the aspirations of the people,” he said after winning the vote in parliament. Now, everyone must [come together.”](https://www.financedigest.com/real-time-connect-nyc-where-adtech-leaders-come-together-to-redefine-data-strategies.html "Real-Time Connect (NYC): Where AdTech leaders come together to redefine data strategies") Wickremesinghe has also recently negotiated with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and enjoys a working relationship with [key donor countries](https://www.financedigest.com/industrial-degreaser-market-2022-by-global-key-players-types-applications-countries-industry-size-and-forecast-to-2030.html "Industrial Degreaser Market 2022 by Global Key Players, Types, Applications, Countries, Industry Size and Forecast to 2030") including India. Whether he can quell mass protests that led to the ouster of the previous president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, remains to be seen. Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets earlier this [month to vent their fury at soaring inflation](https://www.financedigest.com/inflation-in-key-german-states-eases-for-second-month.html "Inflation in key German states eases for second month"), shortages of fuel and other vital goods, regular power blackouts and what they see as corruption among the ruling elite. While the focus of their ire was Rajapaksa, a member of the country’s most powerful political dynasty before the crisis who fled the country for Singapore, they also [demanded that Wickremesinghe stand](https://www.financedigest.com/europe-strains-for-clarity-as-russia-stands-by-roubles-for-gas-demand.html "Europe strains for clarity as Russia stands by roubles-for-gas demand") down – something he refused to do. Wickremesinghe’s victory in parliament came after he [secured the backing](https://www.financedigest.com/security-backed-mortgages-essential-tips-and-guidance.html "Security-Backed Mortgages – Essential Tips and Guidance") of many within the main party, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), that is dominated by the Rajapaksa family. He took over as [prime minister](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-who-will-replace-uk-prime-minister-boris-johnson.html "Factbox-Who will replace UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson?") in May after the former president’s elder brother, Mahinda Rajapaksa, quit from the position following clashes between pro and anti-government protesters that triggered a deadly wave of violence. Since then, Wickremesinghe has been involved in negotiations with the IMF for a potential bailout [package of up to $3 billion](https://www.financedigest.com/unicredit-sets-out-8-billion-aid-package-for-italy-clients-hit-by-surging-prices.html "UniCredit sets out billion aid package for Italy clients hit by surging prices"), besides working on an interim budget to slash government expenditure. This is a [economic crisis and not a political](https://www.financedigest.com/uae-plans-long-term-economic-ties-with-israel-despite-political-strains.html "UAE plans long-term economic ties with Israel despite political strains") crisis,” the SLPP’s General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam told Reuters. We feel that Ranil Wickremesinghe is the only person with the experience, the know-how and the capacity to provide solutions to the [economic crisis.”](https://www.financedigest.com/new-pm-rishi-sunak-pledges-to-lead-britain-out-of-economic-crisis.html "New PM Rishi Sunak pledges to lead Britain out of economic crisis") As president, he is to [complete Rajapaksa’s term that was scheduled to end](https://www.financedigest.com/veritone-launches-marvel-ai-a-complete-end-to-end-voice-as-a-service-solution-to-create-and-monetise-hyper-realistic-synthetic-voice-content-at-commercial-scale.html "Veritone Launches MARVEL.ai, a Complete End-to-End Voice-as-a-Service Solution, to Create and Monetise Hyper-Realistic Synthetic Voice Content at Commercial Scale") in 2024. ‘POLITICS IS A BLOODSPORT’ Born into a prominent family of politicians and businessmen with large interests in the media, a 29-year-old Wickremesinghe was made the country’s youngest cabinet minister by his uncle, President Junius Jayewardene, in 1978. In 1994, following assassinations that wiped out several of his senior colleagues, Wickremesinghe became leader of the UNP. Unlike the Rajapaksas, he has little support beyond wealthy urban voters – although that hasn’t stopped him from repeatedly finding a way back to the premiership. On July 9, Wickremesinghe announced that he was willing to step down as prime minister as protesters swarmed through central Colombo and set a [part of his personal](https://www.financedigest.com/51-of-brits-support-teresa-may-and-would-grant-access-to-their-personal-communication-and-internet-browsing-history-as-part-of-the-snoopers-charter.html "51%* of Brits support Teresa May and would grant access to their personal communication and internet browsing history as part of the Snooper’s Charter ") residence ablaze. An [economic liberal who has experience of dealing](https://www.financedigest.com/gazprom-gas-cut-tempers-economic-hopes-after-ukraine-grain-deal.html "Gazprom gas cut tempers economic hopes after Ukraine grain deal") with the IMF from his previous tenure, Wickremesinghe has also built relationships with China and India, the Asian giants that have long jostled for influence over the Indian Ocean island. Critics blame him for stalling multiple investigations against the Rajapaksa family, including on human rights and corruption allegations – an accusation he has denied. Wickremesinghe’s refusal to relinquish party leadership led to the formation of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), whose leader Sajith Premadasa was also a presidential contender. As parliament met to finalise nominees for the post on Tuesday, Premadasa abruptly dropped out of the race and [announced he would support](https://www.financedigest.com/avalara-announces-trustfile-gst-to-support-indias-implementation-of-a-national-gst-tax-regime.html "Avalara Announces TrustFile GST to Support India’s Implementation of a National GST Tax Regime") Alahapperuma. Ultimately it was not enough to sway the vote. “Politics is more than chess,” Wickremesinghe said in a television interview in 2014. “It’s teamwork like cricket. It is how you must have the stamina for a marathon. It’s a hard game like rugger and it is a bloodsport like boxing.” (Editing by Mike Collett-White and Raju Gopalakrishnan) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---