Ranil Wickremesinghe was on Sunday reinstated as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka by Maithripala Sirisena, ending a 51-day constitutional crisis triggered by the President's controversial move to sack him in a power tussle that had crippled the government in the island nation.
Wickremesinghe, the 69-year-old United National Party leader, was administered the oath of office by President Sirisena, who had sacked him on October 26 and installed former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa in his place.
The UNP leader had refused to step down asserting that his sacking was illegal.
His re-appointment comes a day after Rajapaksa resigned Saturday, after two crucial Supreme Court decisions made his efforts to cling to premiership untenable.
"Today marks a victory not for myself or for the UNP. It is a victory for Sri Lanka's democratic institutions and the sovereignty of our citizens. I thank everyone who stood firm in defending the constitution and ensuring the triumph of democracy," Wickremesinghe said after assuming office.
Sirisena, who had ruled out reappointing Wickremesinghe, was smiling with Wickremesinghe as he handed him the letter of appointment.
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Wickremesinghe's supporters took to streets to celebrate after he took oath at the Presidential Secretariat for the record fifth time.
UNP Assistant Leader Ravi Karunanayake said that talks were held Saturday and more discussions will take place Sunday to select the cabinet.
The cabinet is expected to be limited to 30 and will include a few Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) members who have offered support to Wickremesinghe.
Earlier, Wickremesinghe's party said it was ready to work with President Sirisena, who was "misled by some groups" against the unity government.
UNP deputy leader Sajith Premadasa said that he was not surprised that the President had agreed to appoint Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister again despite taking a firm position earlier that he will not appoint the UNP leader.
"This showed the true character of the President," he was quoted as saying by the Colombo Gazette.
Premadasa said that the President was "misled by some groups who were against the unity Government" and this resulted in the President removing Wickremesinghe.
"But now truth has prevailed," he said. "The party is prepared to work with Sirisena again in the government."
Premadasa said, "The lessons from the incident must be used to strengthen the foundation of democracy and promote justice and fairness."
Rajapaksa said that since a general election can no longer be held, the UPFA cannot implement any of the measures they had planned to take "to prevent the country from becoming another Greece."