MR sworn in as Premier for third time

Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

By Lahiru Pothmulla   

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was sworn-in as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka for the third time, before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday.  With the swearing-in of the new Prime Minister, Sri Lanka has two brothers simultaneously ruling as the President and Prime Minister for the first time in its history. 

With the swearing-in of the new Prime Minister, Sri Lanka has two brothers simultaneously ruling as the President and Prime Minister for the first time in its history.

   
The brief swearing-in ceremony which was held at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo was attended by former President Maithripala Sirisena and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.   

The documents presented by President’s Secretary Dr. P. B. Jayasundara were signed by Premier Rajapaksa and then by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the auspicious time of 1.10 p.m.   

After the swearing-in, both the President and the Prime Minister walked towards their predecessors Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe, welcomed them and had a brief conversation.    Party leaders including Dinesh Gunawardena, Wimal Weerawansa, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Professor G.L. Peiris, Douglas Devananda, Udaya Gammanpila and MPs Nimal Siripala De Silva, Susil Premajayantha, Mahinda Amaraweera and others were also present.   

First Lady Ioma Rajapaksa and family members, former first lady and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s wife Shiranthi Rajapaksa and family members were also present.

The brief swearing-in ceremony which was held at the Presidential  Secretariat in Colombo was attended by former President Maithripala  Sirisena and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe