Sri Lanka's president has appointed a new prime minister amid growing public anger over the government's handling of the economic crisis.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa chose Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday. Wickremesinghe is an opposition lawmaker and former prime minister. He will replace the president's brother, Mahinda Rajapaksa, who resigned as prime minister on Monday.

In Sri Lanka, power is concentrated in the president's hands. The president has the right to appoint the prime minister. President Rajapaksa has indicated that he will cede some of his power to the new administration. This appears to be an attempt to fend off criticism directed at him.

Anti-government protesters are blaming the Rajapaksa family for the country's fiscal deficit. They say the family has mishandled the economy.

A woman who attended a demonstration in Sri Lanka's largest city of Colombo on Thursday said the Rajapaksas have failed to do what they promised.

On Monday, nine people died and about 300 people were injured in clashes between government supporters and protesters.

There is still no end in sight to the political and economic turmoil, as protesters continue to call on the president to step down.