Sri Lanka president to name new PM as unrest simmers amid economic crisis

Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned this week after his supporters attacked anti-government protesters and ran riot in Colombo, unleashing days of violence

Beleaguered president Gotabaya Rajapaksa was set to name a new prime minister on Thursday to try to steer Sri Lanka out of its dire economic crisis after days of violence, officials said.

Respected five-time former premier Ranil Wickremesinghe was the frontrunner to head a unity government" with cross-party support in the 225-member parliament and replace Rajapaksa's elder brother Mahinda who stepped down on Monday.