Historic Appointment: Harini Amarasuriya Named Sri Lanka's Third Female Prime Minister

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Sri Lanka's new president, appointed Harini Amarasuriya as the new prime minister. An academic and first-time lawmaker, Amarasuriya is the third woman to hold the position. This move follows the resignation of the previous prime minister amidst an economic restructuring plan that has raised investor concerns.

In a historic move, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the new president of Sri Lanka, has appointed Harini Amarasuriya as the nation's prime minister, making her the third woman to hold the post. Amarasuriya, a distinguished academic with a doctorate in social anthropology from the University of Edinburgh, entered parliament under Dissanayake's NPP coalition in 2020.

Dissanayake, who is known for his Marxist-leaning political stance, secured the presidency during the elections held on Saturday. He faces significant challenges ahead as he intends to form an interim government and possibly call for a snap general election, given his party's limited presence in the current parliament.

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardene resigned just before Dissanayake took the oath of office, leaving room for a new cabinet as the administration grapples with economic issues and a controversial $2.9 billion IMF bailout plan that has left investors uneasy.

(With inputs from agencies.)