Ranil sworn in before CJ as Acting President

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the Acting President before Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC, yesterday (15) afternoon.Wickremesinghe has now relinquished the Office of the Prime Minister. Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, said in response to a query raised by The Island.

Asked to explain the swearing in of Wickremesinghe soon after Speaker’s Office announced a vote on new President would take place on Wednesday (20), Minister Rajapakse said that Prime Minister Wickremesinghe received the appointment as Acting President as the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was overseas.However, in the wake of President Rajapaksa’s resignation, a vacancy had been created and that had to be filled, Dr. Rajapakse said, adding that the parliamentary process would now take place.

Dr. Rajapakse said that contrary to reports the appointment of a Prime Minister ahead of the vote on new President was not mandatory. The cabinet continued to function, Dr. Rajapakse said.

Speculation is rife that the Acting President would join the fray though his party didn’t have any representation other than that of its leader Wickremesinghe who entered parliament on the UNP National List.

The Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) has declared its leader as its candidate whereas a section of the sharply divided SLPP intends to field Matara District MP Dullas Alahapperuma.Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dassanayake will accept nominations on July 19 (SF)