Sri Lanka’s newly elected president sworn into office

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI
Associated Press

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Veteran politician Ranil Wickremesinghe has been sworn in as Sri Lanka’s new president to take charge of a nation bitterly angry he was chosen amid an unprecedented economic crisis. Wickremesinghe took his oath at a ceremony Thursday in Parliament. The six-time prime minister was chosen by a secret ballot of lawmakers Wednesday to finish the term of the former president who was toppled by protests and fled the country. Wickremesinghe also has drawn protesters’ ire, and crowds last week set his personal residence on fire and occupied his office. The economic crisis has left Sri Lankans struggling with shortages of essentials, including medicine, fuel and food.