Colombo, Nov. 22 -- : Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was sworn in as Prime Minister to head an interim government by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at 1:00 pm yesterday, at the Presidential Secretariat.

This is the first time in Sri Lanka's history that the President and the Prime Minister are siblings.

Customary arrangements were changed to pave the way for the elder brother to receive his letter of appointment standing on the same platform with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Former President Maithripala Sirisena and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe were also present.

Earlier yesterday, Wickremesinghe steps aside for Rajapaksa to return as the 25th Prime Minister after the latter's United National Party (UNP) suffered a de...