'Ranil Go Home'

All his political life, Ranil Wickremesinghe has wanted to be Sri Lanka's president.

He was the country's finance minister before being appointed prime minister six times.

On Wednesday, for the first time in 44 years, the 225-member Sri Lankan parliament elected a president to serve the rest of Gotabaya Rajapaksa's term. Gotabaya had resigned as president on July 15 after fleeing the island, first to the Maldives and Singapore.

Wickremesinghe defeated Dullas Alahapperuma, a member of the breakaway faction of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, 134 votes to 82 to be elected president. He will serve till November 2024

Outside parliament, Sri Lankans continued their protests against their newly elected president, who they charge with being close to the Rajapaksa political dynasty.

IMAGE: Protestors chant slogans during Wednesday's protest. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

IMAGE: People react to the announcement about Wickremesinghe's election. Photograph: Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty Images

Photograph: Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty Images

IMAGE: Wickremesinghe supporters celebrates his election. Photograph: Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty Images

IMAGE: A woman takes a photograph of a Wickremesinghe caricature. Photograph: Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty Images

Photograph: Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty Images

Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

IMAGE: A woman weeps as she participates in a silent protest on the steps outside the presidential secretariat. Photograph: Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty Images