INDIA KEEPS WATCH ON SRI LANKA
Wickremesinghe’s arrogance led to his sacking, claims Sirisena
NEW DELHI, OCT. 28
In a veiled message to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena that it was unhappy with recent political developments in Sri Lanka, India finally broke its silence on Sunday, saying it hoped the “democratic values and the constitutional process will be respected”.
New Delhi on Sunday added that it is “closely following the recent political developments in Sri Lanka”.
This comes two days after the Sri Lankan President sacked Ranil Wickremesinghe as PM and appointed former president Mahinda Rajapaksa in his place apart from suspending Parliament on Saturday.
Colombo, Oct. 28: In a relief to Sri Lanka’s embattled leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Parliament’s Speaker refused to endorse his sacking as the Prime Minister, even as President Maithripala Sirisena on Sunday asserted that the appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as his successor was in strict accordance with the Constitution.
In a letter to Sirisena, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya backed the ousted Prime Minister’s request to retain his privileges and security until another candidate could prove a majority, saying it was “democratic and fair.”
He also questioned the President’s decision to suspend parliament till November 16, saying it will have “serious and undesirable” consequences on the country.
In his first address after sacking Wickremesinghe, Sirisena said his former ally’s political conduct since the victory in 2015 elections was unbecoming. “He appeared to treat Sri Lanka’s future as a joy ride for a coterie of people around him,” he said.
Meanwhile, the crisis took an ugly turn after the bodyguards of petroleum minister Arjuna Ranatunga, a loyalist of PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, fired live rounds at the supporters of the new premier Mahinda Rajapaksa, leaving one person dead. — PTI