Reuters
Colombo, August 19: General election victor Ranil Wickremesinghe Wednesday called on Sri Lankans to unite as he set about the task of forming a national unity government that will seek to heal the divisions of the past. In his first major statement since his United National Party (UNP) foiled ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s comeback bid, Wickremesinghe struck a note of reconciliation.
“I want everyone to come together now. Think of the country, think of the people,” he told a spray of television cameras on the lawn of his official residence. “We can achieve unity, progress in this country if we work together.”
Wickremesinghe, 66, who has led a minority government since President Maithripala Sirisena beat Rajapaksa in a presidential election in January, said he expected to be sworn in as prime minister. Rajapaksa accepted his defeat “with humility” but rebuffed calls by his opponents to retire from active politics.
“I will continue to engage in politics, in keeping with the people’s mandate and I will function within parliament to safeguard the nation and the democratic system,” the 69-year-old said in a statement.
Although Wickremesinghe’s centre-right party fell tantalisingly short of a parliamentary majority, it can count on supporters of Sirisena from the opposition Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP) to control Parliament and push ahead with reforms.
