Crisis-ridden Sri Lanka set to elect president; Oppn leader hopes for continued support from India
Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa urges India to keep supporting Sri Lanka, irrespective of who is elected president
Sri Lanka, the island nation that is going through a major turmoil, is all set to elect a new president. The country, which is India’s neighbour, has seen its woes skyrocket and what it needs now is a stable government that could handhold the troubled island to a safer zone.
The parliament will soon elect a new president, in the hope of a revival of the nation’s economy and social sectors. With India being its closest neighbour and also a well-wisher, Sri Lanka would bank heavily on the support it could get from New Delhi.
Sajith Premadasa, the Leader of the Opposition in Sri Lanka, sounded optimistic on that front, stating that he would love to have India’s support. He has requested New Delhi to keep Sri Lanka, irrespective of who is elected to the top post of president.
Premadasa tweet calls for India’s continued support
In a tweet Premadasa, who leads the island nation’s Opposition outfit Samagi Jana Balawegaya, said “Irrespective of who becomes the President of Sri Lanka tomorrow it is my humble and earnest request to Hon. PM Shri @narendramodi, to all the political parties of India and to the people of India to keep helping mother Lanka and its people to come out of this disaster.”
It has been a major crisis in Sri Lanka, with the economic scenario all in a mess. The nation of 22 million has been reeling under severe crisis with food and fuel shortage ruling like never before. The people are an angry lot for having been pushed to unprecedented suffering.
Last week, the people had run riot forcing former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to quit. The Sri Lankan people had placed on blame on Gotabaya Rajapaksa, his family and the members of his government for bringing about a serious crisis that threatened to engulf the country. Mismanagement of the economy is one major allegation against the Rajapaksa government.
Sri Lanka looks to put things in order
With the nation set for its presidential election, it is being said that Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has been prime minister for six terms and later became acting president, is a front runner for the chair. However, he is not being seen as a favourite by the protestors who took to the streets when the crisis dawned, as they believe he is Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s man. Also in the race is SLPP dissident and former education minister Dullas Alahapperuma. He has the support of the Opposition.
Meanwhile, Sajith Premadasa who tweeted for support from India, made it known that he is not in the race to be president, and is favour of Alahapperuma.
Sri Lanka’s hopes of an Indian support are on expected lines as New Delhi has been offering a helping hand on solving the crisis. It now remains to be seen how the new president will work towards putting things in order in the island nation.
