Sri Lanka's new prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe visits a Buddhist temple after his swearing in ceremony in Colombo on May 12, 2022. (ISHARA S. KODIKARA / AFP)

COLOMBO - Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as minister of finance, economic stabilization and national policies on Wednesday before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

With the appointment, Wickremesinghe will play a key role in the bailout talks with the International Monetary Fund.

With the appointment, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will play a key role in the bailout talks with the International Monetary Fund

Wickremesinghe has already held discussions with ambassadors from several countries and representatives of Asian Development Bank and World Bank on securing funding for the country's immediate needs.

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Sri Lanka is facing the worst economic crisis since independence and recently fell into default as it suspended the servicing of its external debt.

A delegation led by Former Finance Minister Ali Sabry last month concluded a visit to the IMF to discuss financing help for the country.

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Wickremesinghe took over the post of prime minister on May 12 following the resignation of Mahinda Rajapaksa.