Sri Lanka gets second woman PM, after President Harini Amarsuriya also took oath

Sri Lanka New PM: A major change was seen in Sri Lankan politics when Harini Amarasuriya was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of the country on Tuesday, after Anura Kumara Disanayake assumed the presidency. Amarasuriya, a 54-year-old leader of the 'National People's Power' (NPP), has become the second woman Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. Earlier, Sirimavo Bandaranaike held this post in the year 2000.

President Anura Kumara Disanayake himself administered the oath to her. Amarasuriya's becoming the Prime Minister is considered an important step, especially at a time when Sri Lanka is facing an economic crisis and the need for political stability is being felt.

Announcement of a four-member cabinet

President Disanayake has included only four members in his cabinet, the head of which is Harini Amarasuriya. She has taken charge of important ministries like Justice, Education, Labor, Industry, Science and Technology, Health and Investment.

Amarasuriya replaced Dinesh Gunawardene, who resigned from his post after the presidential election. Apart from this, two other NPP MPs Vijitha Herath and Lakshman Nipurnachchi were also sworn in as cabinet ministers. However, all these ministers will work as caretaker cabinet ministers until the Parliament is dissolved. According to officials, parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka are likely to be held by the end of November.

President Dissanayake was sworn in

Another important turn in the political developments of Sri Lanka came on Sunday, when 56-year-old Anura Kumara Dissanayake was sworn in as the ninth President of the country. With his leadership ability and reformist approach, it is expected that he will play an important role in taking the country out of economic and social challenges.

IMF will hold talks with the Sri Lankan government

Another positive news for Sri Lanka with the new leadership is that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said that it will work with the new government led by President Dissanayake on economic reforms.

The IMF also made it clear that it would soon discuss the next review of Sri Lanka's loan program to accelerate the economic reforms needed for the country. The IMF statement said, "We are excited to work closely with President Dissanayake and his team. Our goal is to lead Sri Lanka on the path of reforms that helped the country overcome the most severe economic crises in 2022."

Sri Lanka's Economic Challenges

In 2022, Sri Lanka faced one of the most severe economic crises in its history. The country faced a huge debt burden, foreign exchange shortages and rising inflation. To overcome this crisis, the IMF and other international organizations provided debt relief and financial assistance to Sri Lanka. Now, under the leadership of the new President and Prime Minister, Sri Lanka is expected to speed up its economic reforms and take strong steps towards stability.

Conclusion

Harini Amarasuriya becoming the Prime Minister and Anura Kumara Dissanayake assuming the presidency, both events are important for the future of Sri Lanka. These leaders have a big responsibility on their shoulders to take the country out of the economic crisis. The talks that begin with the IMF and the steps taken towards reforms will determine the future direction of Sri Lanka.