Newly elected President Ranil Wickremesinghe invited all parties in Parliament including the opposition to work together on a new strategy fulfilling the aspirations of the people.

Addressing the House after he was elected as President by a majority of votes in Parliament, he expressed his gratitude to fellow presidential candidates MPs Dullas Alahapperuma and Anura Kumara Dissanayake. 

Wickremesinghe stated that he has been in the Parliament for 45 years and that his life was in this parliament. “I am especially grateful to be given this honor from the Parliament.”

The new elected-President also added that, on one hand it is proven that the Parliament could successfully elect a president by holding a fair voting with no problem, and therefore it is his duty to thank everyone who was involved in holding the election within a complete democratic framework.

“I don’t need to tell you about the situation in the country today. How difficult it is. Economically. The youth are demanding a change in the system. There are many problems in the world. We have to move forward without getting involved. We have to create a new program. The people are not asking us for old politics. They are asking this parliament to work together,” he said. 

He invited all parties in the Parliament including the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, MP Dullas Alahapperuma and the leader of National People’s Power (NPP), Anura Kumara Dissanayake who contested with him in the race for electing the new successor President, to work together on a new strategy fulfilling the aspirations of the people.

“Today we must all come together and let’s look at a new system. We need to discuss that.”

He also requested the Tamil political parties including the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, as the leader of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and former President and SLFP leader Maithripala Sirisena to join them in working together

“Now our time of division is over. Had 48 hours to divide. Now I request everyone to come together and discuss. I would like to star discussions from tomorrow,” he said.

Ranil Wickremesinghe also made a request to allow him take oaths as the President within the parliament premises.