Sri Lanka Appoints Harini Amarasuriya as New Prime Minister

Sri Lanka’s new president Anura Kumara Dissanayake appoints Harini Amarasuriya as prime minister, marking her as the third woman to hold the position.

On Tuesday, Anura Kumara Dissanayake became the new president of Sri Lanka. He has chosen Harini Amarasuriya as the new prime minister. This is a significant moment as she is the third woman ever to hold this important position in the country.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, aged 55, has taken charge of the finance ministry himself. He aims to help Sri Lanka recover from its worst economic crisis in 70 years. The nation is facing a serious financial situation, including its first debt default. Dissanayake wants to ensure that support reaches the people in need.

In addition to finance, Dissanayake will also manage economic development and tourism in his new cabinet. His plans include lowering taxes and reconsidering the terms of a $2.9 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). These ideas have raised concerns among investors, who worry that these changes might slow down a critical $25 billion debt restructuring.

During his inauguration, Dissanayake mentioned the need for cleaner politics and a new political culture. He stated, "I am ready to commit to that change." His party, the National People's Power coalition, traditionally supported Marxist policies. However, in recent years, they have shifted towards more moderate views.

New Prime Minister and Cabinet

Harini Amarasuriya, the new prime minister, is a college professor and a first-time lawmaker. At 54 years old, she joined the Sri Lankan parliament in 2020. She has a doctorate in social anthropology from the University of Edinburgh. As prime minister, Amarasuriya will oversee education, media, and women and children’s affairs.

She follows in the footsteps of two remarkable women: Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the world's first woman prime minister, who served in 1960, and her daughter, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, who held the position in 1994.

Dissanayake also appointed Vijitha Herath as the head of foreign affairs and public security. Herath, who is 56 years old, has been a member of parliament since 2000.

Challenges Ahead

This election is crucial for Sri Lanka, as it comes after the country faced a severe economic crisis in 2022. The crisis was due to a lack of foreign currency, which made it hard to import essential goods like fuel, medicine, and cooking gas. The situation led to widespread protests, forcing the former president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, to resign.

Now, Dissanayake and his cabinet must work hard to form a new government. Many analysts believe that he will dissolve parliament and call for a snap general election. His party currently holds only three out of 225 seats in the current parliament, making it difficult to govern effectively.

Just before Dissanayake took his oath of office, the former prime minister, Dinesh Gunawardene, stepped down to allow for the new prime minister and cabinet to take over.