New Sri Lankan president promises tough stance against troublemakers

The new Sri Lankan president has promised to take a tough stance against troublemakers.

On Wednesday, Sri Lanka’s president-elect vowed to take tough action against anyone who used what he called undemocratic means to depose his predecessor.

In his address to Parliament, Wickremesinghe asked the Speaker to allow him to take the oath and stated that he is willing to begin discussions with parties as soon as tomorrow.

“If you try to destabilise the government by occupying the president’s and prime minister’s offices, that is not democracy, and we will deal with them firmly,” Ranil Wickremesinghe said hours after being elected.

Ranil Wickremesinghe took over as acting President after Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrived in Singapore and resigned.

Wickremesinghe was elected with 134 votes.

He defeated his main opponent, SLPP dissident and former Education Minister Dullas Alahapperuma, with 82 votes.

Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa was also running for President but dropped out at the last minute to support Alahapperuma. He decided to run for Prime Minister.