Mahinda Rajapakse becomes Sri Lanka's PM
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- After hours of deliberations, the Sri Lankan president Monday appointed Mahinda Rajapakse to be the country's new prime minister.
The president's coalition emerged from voting Friday as the single largest political force but failed to win a majority, forcing it to seek partners in new government.
"Mr. Rajapakse is the 13th prime minister of Sri Lanka," Rajapakse's spokesman Rohan Weliwita said.
"He will take oaths before President Chandrika Kumaratunga on Tuesday," he said.
Kumaratunga earlier named Lakshman Kadirgamar as prime minister, but postponed the swearing in ceremony after fierce opposition from Rajapakse.
Kumaratunga's alliance emerged just eight seats short of an absolute majority in Parliament in Friday's elections.
However, she has the power to administer the oath of office to a prime minister, but the latter will have to prove a majority in the Parliament, which is scheduled to convene April 22.
