Tilak Marapana of the United National Party (UNP) assumed charge as Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister here on Tuesday, following his predecessor Ravi Karunanayake’s resignation last week.

Mr. Karunanayake stepped down on Thursday, after being linked to a controversial businessman who has been accused of a key role in a bond scam at the country’s Central Bank. Denying any wrongdoing, the ex-Minister said he was resigning to protect the government and the UNP that he was part of.

Third under Sirisena

Mr. Marapana is the third Foreign Minister since the Maithripala Sirisena-Ranil Wickremesinghe combine formed government two and a half years ago. In May, Mr. Karunanayake replaced Mangala Samaraweera, currently Finance Minister, in a Cabinet reshuffle.

Talk of Mr. Maranapana’s appointment earlier sparked criticism from sections in Colombo, who pointed to his 2015 resignation — he was Law and Order Minister then — after he reportedly defended a controversial maritime security company linked to a major corruption case. In May, Mr. Marapana was brought back into the government as Minister of Development Assignments.