Prime Minister resigns, new President takes oath, sets out mission to create "new political culture"

On September 23, President-elect Anura Kumara Dissanayake was sworn in as Sri Lanka's ninth head of state since its independence in 1948, while Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena announced his decision to resign.

New Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (in white) takes the oath of office on September 23 in the capital Colombo. (Source: Onlanka)

Speaking at an inauguration ceremony in the capital Colombo broadcast on state television, President Dissanayake pledged to work with experts to address the country's challenges, according to AP news agency.

“We deeply understand that we are leading a country full of challenges,” he said. “We do not believe that any single government , party or individual can solve this profound crisis.”

According to the leader, his main task is to create a "new political culture", and he affirmed that he will build good relations with all countries.

Also according to AP, right before Mr. Dissanayake's swearing-in ceremony, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena announced his decision to resign in a letter to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, paving the way for the new President to appoint a Prime Minister and form a new cabinet.

On social network X , Mr. Dinesh Gunawardena said that his decision followed the Sri Lankan Constitution, which clearly states that resignation is part of the process of transferring power after the recent presidential election results.

A day earlier, the Sri Lanka Election Commission announced that Mr. Dissanayake, born in 1968, leader of the Marxist National People's Power Party (NPP), had won the presidential election held on September 21, with 42.31% of the votes.

Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa received the second highest number of votes (with 32.76% support) and outgoing President Ranil Wickremesinghe received the third highest number of votes (receiving 17.27% support).

This is the first election since Sri Lanka's economy collapsed in 2022 due to a severe foreign currency shortage, leaving the Indian Ocean island nation unable to pay for imports of essential goods such as fuel, medicine and gas.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/sri-lanka-thu-tuong-tu-chuc-tan-tong-thong-tuyen-the-neu-nhiem-vu-tao-ra-nen-van-hoa-chinh-tri-moi-287370.html