Ranil Wickremesinghe

president of Sri Lanka

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July 16, 2026

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Ranil Wickremesinghe is a Sri Lankan politician who became president in July 2022 amidst a severe economic crisis. He previously served as prime minister multiple times, notably in May 2022 during widespread protests against the government's handling of the economic collapse. Wickremesinghe's appointment as acting president followed the resignation and flight of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, whose administration faced immense public pressure due to food shortages, inflation, and daily power outages, exacerbated by tax cuts and a ban on chemical fertilizers. Wickremesinghe himself announced his intention to resign but became acting president in Rajapaksa's absence.12

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Mahinda Rajapaksa
Post-presidency and premiership
…Sirisena fired his prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and attempted to appoint Rajapaksa in his place. Wickremesinghe challenged the move as unconstitutional. When it became clear that Parliament would not approve Rajapaksa’s appointment, Sirisena dissolved the legislative body in early November. The Supreme Court intervened, suspending the dissolution until it could…
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…Sirisena fired his prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and attempted to appoint Rajapaksa in his place. Wickremesinghe challenged the move as unconstitutional. When it became clear that Parliament would not approve Rajapaksa’s appointment, Sirisena dissolved the legislative body in early November. The Supreme Court intervened, suspending the dissolution until it could…
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Sri Lanka
Growing debt and instability
…Sirisena fired his prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and appointed Rajapaksa in his place in October 2018. Wickremesinghe charged the move as unconstitutional and refused to step down. When it became clear in early November that Rajapaksa did not have Parliament’s support, Sirisena attempted to dissolve Parliament and call for early…
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…Sirisena fired his prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and appointed Rajapaksa in his place in October 2018. Wickremesinghe charged the move as unconstitutional and refused to step down. When it became clear in early November that Rajapaksa did not have Parliament’s support, Sirisena attempted to dissolve Parliament and call for early…
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Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga
In 2001 Kumaratunga’s opponent, Ranil Wickremesinghe, became prime minister after the UNP won the parliamentary election, and the two politicians frequently clashed. She publicly opposed his peace efforts, claiming that the rebels had received too many concessions. The power struggle led Kumaratunga to call for new elections in 2004,…
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In 2001 Kumaratunga’s opponent, Ranil Wickremesinghe, became prime minister after the UNP won the parliamentary election, and the two politicians frequently clashed. She publicly opposed his peace efforts, claiming that the rebels had received too many concessions. The power struggle led Kumaratunga to call for new elections in 2004,…
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