Sri Lankan MPs have chosen six-time PM Ranil Wickremasinghe as president Wednesday in a 134 to 82 vote ballot against nearest candidate Dullas Alahapperuma.

73-year-old Wickremasinghe has led the negotiations with the IMF over a critical bailout package but remains deeply unpopular with voters; only a small handful of lawmakers declared their support for him publicly.

Predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa had appointed Wickremasinghe as his PM in May before fleeing the country and resigning by email last week. MPs loyal to Rajapaksa have reportedly offered their backing to Wickremasinghe under assurances he will crack down hard on protestors who burned down their homes in May.