Business tycoon Dhammika Perera to replace Basil in parliament
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Jun 10, 2022 11:31
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One of Sri Lanka's richest businessmen will replace the Basil Rajapaksha, a ruling party official said on Friday, as the country moves forward on talks for a bailout plan with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Perera takes up the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) national list seat vacant by former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa
With an extraordinary gazette declaring his appointment published Friday (10) evening, Sri Lankan business tycoon Dhammika Perera is now officially a lawmaker in the country’s ninth parliament, pending swearing in.
A Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) filing showed that the businessman had resigned from the boards of directors of Hayleys PLC (of which he directly and indirectly holds 51.01 percent of shares), Singer (Sri Lanka) PLC, Hayleys Fabric PLC, Hayleys Leisure PLC, Haycarb PLC, and The Kingsbury PLC.
Sri Lanka is in the midst of the worst financial crisis since independence in 1948. Foreign exchange reserves have dropped to record lows leaving it struggling to pay for essential imports of fuel, food and medicine and triggering shortages and months of protests.
