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Sri Lanka's New President Makes History: A Female Prime Minister Takes Charge

Tuesday 24 September 2024 - 16:01

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Sri Lanka's newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Harini Amarasuriya, an opposition lawmaker, as the country's first female prime minister in 24 years. This historic appointment comes at a time when Sri Lanka is grappling with an unprecedented economic crisis, and the nation's citizens are demanding a fresh start and a break from the old political order.

Amarasuriya, a 54-year-old university lecturer and activist, shares a similar background with President Dissanayake, both hailing from the Marxist-leaning National People's Power coalition. Her appointment marks a departure from the male-dominated political landscape that has characterized Sri Lanka since the introduction of universal suffrage in 1931.

The last woman to hold the position of prime minister, the second most powerful in the country, was Sirimavo Bandaranaike. Bandaranaike's tenure as the world's first female head of government began in 1960, and she served three terms until 2000. Her younger daughter, Chandrika Kumaratunga, followed in her footsteps, becoming Sri Lanka's first and only female president from 1994 to 2005.

President Dissanayake's victory in the recent election over former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa reflects the public's dissatisfaction with the old political guard. Voters blamed this group for pushing the country into an economic crisis, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and 2019 terrorist attacks, which devastated the vital tourism industry.

However, Dissanayake's party holds only three seats in the 225-member Parliament, which may pose challenges in forming a fully-fledged Cabinet. During his election campaign, Dissanayake vowed to dissolve Parliament and call for snap elections, with the current Parliament's term ending in August 2025.

In addition to her role as prime minister, Amarasuriya has assumed the duties of four other ministries, including justice, health, women, trade, and industries. Another lawmaker from Dissanayake's party, Vijitha Herath, was appointed minister in charge of six departments, encompassing foreign affairs, transport, public security, environment, port, and civil aviation.

As President Dissanayake's administration begins, one of its most pressing challenges will be to address the harsh austerity measures imposed by his predecessor, Wickremesinghe, under an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Sri Lanka defaulted on its debt, leading to the implementation of these measures as part of a relief package. Wickremesinghe has cautioned that any alterations to the bailout agreement could delay the release of the fourth tranche, amounting to nearly $3 billion.

The economic crisis in Sri Lanka is largely attributed to staggering economic mismanagement and the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. As the nation navigates this challenging period, the appointment of a female prime minister represents a step towards gender equality and a potential catalyst for positive change.