Harini Amarasuriya Sworn In as Third Woman PM of Sri Lanka

Harini Amarasuriya was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s new Prime Minister on Tuesday. She became the third woman PM of the island nation.

She also became the first female leader since Sirimavo Bandaranaike in 2000 to become the Prime Minister. She is an alumni of Hindu College, Delhi.

The 54-year-old National People’s Power (NPP) leader was sworn in by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who appointed his cabinet of four, including himself.

Amarasuriya has taken charge of justice, education, labour, industries, science & technology, health, and investment portfolios. She succeeds PM Dinesh Gunawardena, who resigned from his post following the presidential election.

NPP parliamentarians Vijitha Herath and Laxman Nipunarachchi were sworn in as cabinet ministers. They would serve as the caretaker cabinet with the imminent dissolution of parliament to call for a snap parliamentary election. According to reports, the parliamentary election could take place in late November. On Sunday, Dissanayake, 56, was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s ninth president.