On Thursday, United National Party leader and five-time PM Ranil was sworn in for the sixth time to lead Sri Lanka, as the island nation grapples with an unprecedented economic and political crisis. Ranil assumed duties at the PM Office this morning, Daily Mirror said.

The PM slot fell vacant after Mahinda Rajapaksa, brother of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, stepped down from his post on May 9.

Prior to Ranil's appointment as the Sri Lankan PM on Thursday, he had served five times in the post previously.

Ranil served as the Sri Lankan PM from 1993 to 1994, 2001 to 2004, 2015 to 2015 (100 days), 2015 to 2018, and 2018 to 2019.

He has been the UNP leader since 1994 and has served as the Leader of the Opposition from 1994 to 2001 and from 2004 to 2015.

(With UNI inputs)