SRI LANKA’S acting president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, won a vote in parliament on Wednesday to be the next president until 2024, taking over from former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa who resigned after fleeing the country last week.
Hundreds of thousands of protesters had flooded the streets of the island nation to demand Rajapaksa’s resignation over his government’s handling of a crippling economic crisis.
Here are some reactions to the victory.
MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER SAJITH PREMADASA:
“We now have to consider how we ended up here, in the middle of a presidential term, to elect a new president.
“It was because of a massive public wave against an elected president. This is now an outdated parliament, with a mandate given for an ousted president.
“We must work according to the constitution. The reality is people are struggling without fuel, food and basics.
“We must have a national policy with clear timelines to put the economy on track and save this country. As the opposition we will give our utmost support for this.”
PROTESTER BUWANAKA PERERA:
“The occupy movement shall continue, the struggle shall continue. The reason why people came out against Gota (Rajapaksa) was not a personal grudge.
“It was protesting ideals and values he held. We see those same values, corruption and oppression in Ranil. We will continue the protest until Ranil goes home.
“It might take us a week, a month, two months, or 98 days. But we know people in Sri Lanka are not going to stand for it. We will get back on the streets and continue.”
PROTEST ORGANISER CHAMEERA DEDDUWAGE:
“What does it mean for the struggle? For one thing, it means that the struggle will have to be satisfied with its primary demand, i.e. resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
“It also means that the struggle, in one form or another, will have to find new ways to win our remaining demands.
“Unlike Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Ranil is not a populist: he’s known to be a ruthless pragmatist. I think the immediate concern is the possible prosecution of leading members of the struggle.”
OPPOSITION LAWMAKER ERAN WICKRAMARATNE ON TWITTER:
“I hope the outcome would facilitate immediate political stability that is an imperative pre-requisite to stabilise the economy, so a general election can be called to restore people’s mandate thereafter.”
LAWMAKER AND PRESIDENTIAL RIVAL DULLAS ALAHAPPERUMA:
“I accept the decision of parliament.
“My effort was to support consensus-based policy-making to provide solutions to a deeply suffering population.
“I believe the space for that still exists and I will continue to work to strengthen that effort and work for the people.
“This is simply another milestone in my career. I hope that at least now you will cultivate the mentality to listen to the suffering masses.”
– REUTERS
