“We want everyone to come together now”.
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Wickremesinghe’s UNF won 106 seats in the 225-member parliament on Monday. That is short of a majority, but a pledge of “issue-based” support from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which holds the balance of power with 16 seats, will allow the party to carry out promised political and economic reforms.
He also has the backing of one more MP from the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress party.
Wickremesinghe, 66, who has led a centre-right minority government since President Maithripala Sirisena beat Rajapaksa in a presidential election in January, said he would not allow divisive forces to derail Sri Lanka – a veiled reference to his rival Rajapaksa. With the pro-West Wickremesinghe enjoying far more power now after the passing of the 19th Amendment last April with which the powers of the executive President were curtailed, he might personally be able to convince the world of his sincerity.
Sirisena had clashed with Rajapaksa, who ran for prime minister on an SLFP ticket, and a political realignment could leave the former president isolated in a rump opposition, as he and his allies face a series of corruption investigations.
Addressing the media at his official residence, Mr. Wickremesinghe, who is expected to be sworn in as Prime Minister for the fourth time shortly, said voters had indicated their preference.
He concluded the statement adding “I will continue to engage in politics in keeping with the people’s mandate and I will function within parliament to safeguard the nation and the democratic system”.
The defeat of Rajapakse’s UPFA has deepened rifts between those loyal to him and supporters of Sirisena, the nominal head of the party. Sources said Mr Wickremesinghe will likely engineer defections from the fractured opposition.
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Wickremesinghe said he would soon meet Sirisena to discuss the next government’s makeup and policy agenda that will be presented to parliament when it convenes on Sept. 1. Mr Rajapaksa’s lesser performance at the polls means any embarrassing interregnum has been obviated and the road ahead is clear.
