Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday assumed duties as the 22nd Prime Minster of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka at the Prime Minister’s Office.
He was sworn in as the new Prime Minister before President Maithripala Sirisena on Friday (26).
The ceremonial event was held at the Prime Minister’s Office with the blessings of Maha Sangha. Secretary to the Prime Minister Sirisena Amarasekara, Parliamentarians, provincial councilors, heads of the local government bodies were present at the occasion.
Premier Rajapaksa held a special meeting with a group of parliamentarians soon after assuming duties.
He acknowledged the greetings of the multitudes before leaving the premises.
Mahinda Rajapaksa who was a lawyer by profession started his political carrier decades ago when he was first elected to Parliament in 1970 as the youngest Member of Parliament at just 24.
Following the death of his father D.A. Rajapaksa in 1967, Rajapaksa took over as the SLFP candidate for the Beliatta constituency.
He served as the country’s 6th President and he was first sworn in as the President in November 2005 and gave a courageous leadership to end the 30 year long war in 2009.
Rajapaksa re-elected for a second time in office with a landslide victory in January 2010 served in this post till January 2015.
He had also served as Labour Minister and Minister of Fisheries during the initial years of his political career.
After the Parliamentary Elections of 2004, Rajapaksa was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s 13th Prime Minister and also held the Ministry of Highways.