Sri Lanka's new President Ranil Wickremesinghe is expected to appoint his old friend and Rajapaksa loyalist Dinesh Gunawardena as the prime minister of the country. Gunawardena is likely to take oath on Friday.
Wickremesinghe is also expected to appoint a new all-party cabinet.
Wickremesinghe, who is being criticised by the protesters of the Aragalaya movement for saving the most unpopular Rajapaksa government, has proposed a national government with representatives from all the parties in the cabinet. While the opposition parties are yet to decide on being part of the government, the previous set of ministers will be sworn in on Friday to make the government restart its work. This cabinet will be at work till all parties agree for a national government, and a cabinet reshuffle will happen accordingly in the near future, say sources.
Following an all-party leaders' meeting on Thursday, opposition leader Sajith Premadasa tweeted saying, “Met with president Ranil Wickremesinghe at the party leaders meeting today. Had a cardiac and frank exchange of ideas. Reiterated the opposition’s determination to provide constructive support to misery and disaster.”
Meanwhile Wickremesinghe, a six-time prime minister, rejected claims that he is an old friend of the Rajapaksas and took charge as president only to save them. “How am I a friend to the Rajapaksas? How can you say that? I have been opposing them always. I am not a friend of the Rajapaksas. I am a friend of the people,” he said, adding that he will give the “change” the people want.