President Gotabaya talks of appointing new PM in address to nation, curfew to continue in SL

In a televised address to the nation, Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said he would name a prime minister who will command a majority in parliament and the confidence of the people. The Sri Lankan government has also said the nationwide curfew that was lifted at 7 am on Thursday will be reimposed at 2 pm and last until 6 am on Friday, May 13. Earlier, the government issued shoot-on-sight instructions to the troops amid large scale violence in the country.

Sri Lanka president Gotabaya Rajapaksa is expected to name a new prime minister today to help steer the island nation past an economic crisis and days of horrific violence that has claimed the lives of at least eight people so far. Five-time former premier Ranil Wickremesinghe is seen as the frontrunner for the post that was formerly held by the president's brother - Mahinda Rajapaksa who quit Monday amid violent protests in Colombo. Wickremesinghe (if named) will likely be at the head of a 'unity' government with cross-party support in the 225-member Sri Lanka parliament.