Wickramanayaka PM, UNP to sit in opposition

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 October 2000, 08:41 GMT]
People's Alliance sources said that the Mr.Ratnasiri Wickremanayaka will be sworn in as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka at three p.m. Friday. They said that the PA is confident of obtaining the support of the majority of MPs in Parliament to form the government. Meanwhile, the leader of the United National Party Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe told a press conference in Colombo Friday noon that his party would sit in the opposition.

Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga (R) swears in Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, as the country's new Prime Minister on October 13, 2000. Photo: Reuters/ Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi

Mr.Wickremesinghe's statement ended speculation about efforts by the UNP to forge a minority government with the outside support of the JVP and the Tamil parties.