Ranil's special statement in Parliament after assuming the office of President

Ranil Wickramasinghe, who was elected as the 8th Executive President of Sri Lanka, made a special statement in Parliament today (July 20).

He stated that he had spent 45 years in Parliament and that his life was in Parliament.

Therefore, he said that he is thankful for this honor given to him by the Parliament.

The new president also thanked the MPs who voted for him.

"The youth of the country are demanding a change in the system today. We have many problems in the world today abroad. We have to go without getting involved. Proceed. We have to create a new program. The people are not asking us for old politics. This parliament is to come together and do that work. So, I especially request, I am thankful to Mr. Dallas Alahapperuma who competed with me and MP Anura Dissanayake, I request MP Dallas Alahapperuma that we all work together to bring a new system.

I make the same request to my friend Anura Kumara Dissanayake. I would like to make this request to my friend Mr. Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the Opposition and all those people. Today, let's all come together and see a new method. That is what we need to discuss. Similarly, I am making the same request to everyone including Dravida Sandhaan MP. We have to make that request to our Ponnambalam MP and Wigneswaran. Let's all come together. Similarly, I have to make the same request to the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the leader of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, on behalf of that party. Similarly, I am making the same request to our former President Maithripala Sirisena who is here. Now the time we shared is over. We had 48 hours to split. We split 48 hours. Now I request everyone to come together to discuss and from tomorrow I would like to discuss with all of you."

Concluding his statement, Mr. Wickramasinghe asked the Speaker to allow him to take the oath of office at the Parliament building.