Sri Lanka: President appoints new cabinet December 20

Event

On Thursday, December 20, four days after former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was reintroduced into office, President Maithripala Sirisena appointed a new government of about 30 members, bringing back some normality to the Sri Lankan institutional landscape after two months of serious political crisis which significantly destabilized the nation. Out of the 30 members, 29 members are from the ruling United National Front Alliance. The political crisis had prompted violent demonstrations since October and further protests are possible in the coming days; a heightened security presence is anticipated in the capital Colombo.

Context

On December 12, former Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, who was forced out by President Sirisena in October, won the support of 117 members in the 225-member Parliament to take back office as prime minister. On December 16, Prime minister M. Rajapaksa resigned from his prime ministerial position after the Supreme Court suspended him and the cabinet from operating, until the case will be heard in January.

Advice

Individuals in Sri Lanka, particularly Colombo, are advised to keep abreast of the domestic political climate, adhere to instructions issued by local authorities and their home governments, refrain from discussing political subjects in public, and avoid all protests due to the risk of violence.