Sri Lanka President Dissanayake picks Harini Amarasuriya as PM
In a historic move, Anura Kumara Dissanayake was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s president on Monday and promptly appointed Harini Amarasuriya as the new prime minister on Tuesday. This appointment makes Amarasuriya the third woman to hold the position, following the trailblazing Sirimavo Bandaranaike and her daughter, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.
Dissanayake, a 55-year-old politician known for his Marxist leanings, emerged victorious in the recent election held on Saturday. He is set to announce his full cabinet shortly. Amarasuriya, 54, a college professor with a doctorate in social anthropology from the University of Edinburgh, has been a member of parliament since 2020 under Dissanayake’s National People’s Power (NPP) coalition. In addition to her role as prime minister, she will oversee the portfolios of foreign affairs, education, and media.
The NPP, which includes Dissanayake’s Janatha Vimukhti Peremuna party, is known for its Marxist economic policies focused on protectionism and state intervention. As Dissanayake’s administration takes shape, analysts suggest he may dissolve parliament and call for a snap general election, given that the NPP currently holds only three of the 225 seats.
The new administration faces immediate challenges, particularly regarding economic policies. Dissanayake’s proposals to slash taxes and revisit the terms of a $2.9 billion International Monetary Fund bailout have raised concerns among investors, who fear these moves could jeopardize a critical $25 billion debt restructuring.
Amid these changes, Dinesh Gunawardene resigned as prime minister just before Dissanayake’s inauguration, effectively dissolving the previous cabinet and paving the way for the new government to take charge.
As the nation grapples with economic turmoil and political uncertainty, the appointments of Dissanayake and Amarasuriya signal a significant shift in Sri Lanka’s leadership landscape.
