Sri Lanka's parliament on Wednesday picked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as president as the country reels from an ongoing political and economic crisis.
Wickremesinghe, a six-time prime minister, will succeed Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled the country and stepped down by email last week after demonstrators, furious about skyrocketing inflation and shortages of essentials such as fuel and medicine, stormed his official residence and key government buildings.
Although Wickremesinghe secured enough support from Sri Lankan lawmakers, it remains unclear whether the new president will be accepted by ordinary Sri Lankans.
He is unpopular with ordinary citizens as he is seen as an ally of the previous president and for also being responsible for the worst economic crisis since the island country of 22 million gained independence from Britain in 1948.
"I need not tell you the status our country is in. Now that the election is over, we have to end this division," Wickremesinghe was quoted by the Associated Press as saying after his win was announced. Protesters gathered outside the president's residence, chanting "Go home, Ranil" after his election, the AP reported.
The 73-year-old, who won 134 votes in the 225-member parliament backed by lawmakers from the ruling and ousted leader's party, will serve the remainder of Rajapaksa's term that is set to end in 2024. He is expected to take office Thursday.
Wickremesinghe's main contender, ruling party lawmaker Dullas Alahapperuma, garnered 82 votes, and a third candidate, Anura Dissanayaka, received three votes.
Rajapaksa appointed Wickremesinghe as prime minister in May to bring stability to the country. Wickremesinghe became acting president last week after Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives aboard a military plane and then to Singapore.
Wickremesinghe has recently been involved in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund for a potential bailout package. But he had faced pressure to resign from mass protesters, who also stormed his office.
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