In U-turn, Sri Lanka president reinstates ousted prime minister

President Sirisena reinstated Wickremesinghe on Sunday, capitulating in the face of political realities that had persisted since he ousted the premier over policy differences on October 26.

At the time, the president also suspended the parliament, where Wickremesinghe enjoyed solid support. But a court later overruled the decision to suspend the parliament, and Wickremesinghe also refused to step down or leave the prime minister’s residence.

Former president Mahinda Rajapakse, who had replaced Wickremesinghe as prime minister, resigned on Saturday after failing to garner support at the parliament.

Despite the reinstatement, the political bickering doesn’t seem to have ended. On Sunday, President Sirisena — who has publicly castigated Wickremesinghe — barred journalists from attending the swearing-in ceremony and left it to Wickremesinghe’s fellow parliamentarians to announce the reappointment.

“We thank the citizens of the country who fought the illegal seizure of power and ensured that democracy was restored,” Wickremesinghe’s United National Party of Sri Lanka said on Twitter.

A spokesman for Wickremesinghe said he was expected to form a cabinet in the coming days, with the priority given to the 2019 budget.

In past weeks, ratings agencies had downgraded the country's credit rating amid fears of a sovereign debt default.