Sri Lanka's controversial Rajapaksa clan on Thursday tightened its grip on political power with President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa swearing-in his elder brother Mahinda as the prime minister, amidst apprehensions among the minority Tamils and Muslims on the new dispensation's policies.
Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed duty in his new capacity on Thursday itself. The 74-year-old leader will function as the prime minister of the caretaker cabinet until the general election in August 2020.
“I'm honoured to have taken oaths as Sri Lanka's new Prime Minister. I look forward to serving all Sri Lankans as we take our country forward with a new vision to further develop and protect it for future generations,” the new prime minister tweeted, reaching out to all Sri Lankans.
Mahinda Rajapaksa took the oath as the new prime minister at the Presidential Secretariat, three days after Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was sworn in as the president. Former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, former president Maithripala Sirisena and other political leaders were present on the occasion.
“I wish to congratulate and extend my warmest wishes to Hon Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister of the Democratic, Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka,” President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa tweeted.
This is Mahinda Rajapaksa's second innings as the prime minister. He was premier for a brief period in 2018 amidst a major political turmoil in the country.