PM Wickremesinghe is named Lanka’s new Finance Minister by GOTA

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa nominated Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as Finance Minister on Wednesday, according to an official announcement.

Wickremesinghe was sworn in as Minister of Finance, Economic Stability, and National Policies at the age of 73.

Following the political circus sparked by the island’s unparalleled economic crisis, the five-time prime minister was re-appointed to the post on May 12.

He took over from Mahinda Rajapaksa, who resigned to let his brother to form an all-party temporary government to deal with the economic crisis.

Wickremesinghe’s office stated that he had been in charge for two weeks.

He re-established the island’s diplomatic contacts, began moves toward constitutional reform with the formulation of the 21 constitutional amendments, ensured fuel supply, and is preparing an interim budget.

With only one seat in the 225-member parliament, Wickremesinghe is reliant on all political parties to help him with his immediate challenge of rebuilding the country’s struggling economy.

Sri Lanka filed bankruptcy in mid-April, claiming that it will be unable to pay its international debts this year.