Ranil Wickremesinghe: Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka’s veteran political leader, has been appointed as the next Prime Minister of Sri Lanka amid the ongoing protests in the country.

Key Points:

• President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed , 73-years old,  Ranil Wickremesinghe after the resignation of former PM Mahinda Rajapaksa.
• He was administered the oath of office by the President, who in an address to the nation yesterday, declared that a Prime Minister and his cabinet will be put in place this week.
• Wickremesinghe, who has already served as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka five times,  appeared to be the only option as the crisis-hit island nation’s largest opposition party had refused to join a government headed by a member of Rajapaksa clan.
• He accepted the post after securing the support of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).

Sri Lanka Economic Crisis:

• Sri Lanka was already reeling from a crippling economic crisis due to widespread shortages of food and fuel, soaring prices of essential commodities and hours-long power cut.
• Groups of pro and anti-government activists clashed in Colombo, triggering curfew and a state of emergency across the island.
• Further, the country was thrown into upheaval on May 9 when former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned amid the crisis, effectively ending the country's elected government.
• Anti-government protesters also want President Rajapaksa to step down and the Lankan parliament is expected to debate a no-confidence motion against the President on May 17, 2022.