(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) – “I offered the post of Prime Minister to Ranil Wickremesinghe as a leader who respects Parliamentary traditions and democracy,” President Maithripala Sirisena said.
The President was addressing the Members of the United National Front (UNF) after the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat on Sunday (16).
“A statement I made to say that I would not appoint Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister is a personal view of mine. That is my personal political view, but as a leader who respects Parliamentary traditions and democracy, I decided to invite Ranil Wickremesinghe and offered him the premiership, the President said.
President Sirisena observed that the power to name a Prime Minister is vested with the Executive President according to the Constitution. Considering the request of the 117 Parliamentarians, they being the majority in Parliament and I being a civilised leader who respects Parliamentary democracy and traditions, I agreed with their decision,” President Sirisena said.
