Sri Lanka's newly elected President Ranil Wickremesinghe sworn into office

The six-time Prime Minister had never held the top job. But he easily won the secret ballot of lawmakers on July 20 to finish the term of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Veteran politician Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as Sri Lanka's new President on July 21 to take charge of a nation bitterly angry. He will remain in power amid an unprecedented economic crisis.

Sri Lankans have taken to the streets for months to demand their top leaders step down to take responsibility for economic chaos that has left the nation's 22 million people struggling with shortages of essentials, including medicine, fuel and food. While the protesters have focussed on the Rajapaksa political dynasty, Mr. Wickremesinghe also has drawn their ire as a perceived Rajapaksa surrogate.

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The six-time Prime Minister had never held the top job. But he easily won the secret ballot of lawmakers on July 20 to finish the term of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled the country after protesters stormed his residence last week and resigned.

Mr. Wickremesinghe, 73, has wide experience in diplomatic and international affairs and has been overseeing the bailout talks with the International Monetary Fund.

Lawmakers apparently considered him the safer hands to lead the nation through the crisis, despite public anger at Mr. Wickremesinghe as an example of the nation's problematic political establishment. During demonstrations last week, crowds set his personal residence on fire and occupied his office.

After Wednesday's vote, Mr. Wickremesinghe called for politicians to work together and pleaded for the country to move on. But protesters flocked to the Presidential residence instead, chanting, “Ranil, go home.”