Colombo, Sri Lanka: On Tuesday, Harini Amarasuriya was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s new prime minister, marking the first time in 24 years that a woman has held this position. Appointed by newly-elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Amarasuriya, 54, is a university lecturer and activist with a shared political background with Dissanayake. Both are members of the National People’s Power coalition, a Marxist-leaning group that secured only three seats in the 225-member Parliament.
Amarasuriya’s appointment follows Dissanayake’s victory in a tightly contested election, defeating former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa. The election result reflects the desire of many Sri Lankans to break away from the political figures held responsible for the country’s ongoing economic crisis.
Amarasuriya takes on additional duties overseeing four key ministries: justice, health, women’s affairs, and trade. Another prominent party member, Vijitha Herath, was appointed to lead six departments, including foreign affairs and public security.
The new administration faces immediate challenges, particularly managing the harsh austerity measures set by Wickremesinghe in cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). These measures were part of a deal made after Sri Lanka defaulted on its debt, and any attempts to alter the agreement could risk delaying crucial IMF aid of nearly $3 billion.
Sri Lanka’s political landscape has been predominantly male since universal suffrage was introduced in 1931. Amarasuriya’s appointment follows in the footsteps of Sirimavo Bandaranaike, who was the world’s first female head of government in 1960. Bandaranaike’s daughter, Chandrika Kumaratunga, was the country’s first female president, serving from 1994 to 2005.
