Thousands rally in support of ousted Lanka PM

Opposing sides engage in efforts to secure numbers in Parliament ◗ Wickremesinghe said that the movement calling for recalling Parliament would be taken to places outside the capital to ensure democratic rights of people

Colombo, Oct. 30: Angry protests rocked Sri Lanka’s capital on Tuesday as thousands of demonstrators gathered for a rally organised by ousted PM Ranil Wickremesinghe’s party against what it said was a “coup” by President Maithripala Sirisena, even as the opposing sides were engaged in efforts to secure their numbers in Parliament to end the country’s political crisis.

“Mr Sirisena has broken his promise and taken executive powers into his hands. He has sidelined parliamentary power,” UNP leader Mr Wickremesinghe said, addressing the crowd.

The UNP has demanded that Parliament be convened immediately and democracy restored.

The ousted Premier alleged that President Sirisena had assumed he would get his way.

However, he said the UNP and its partners in the United National Front will not give up and will continue to push for Parliament to convene immediately.

“People have spoken, the message is for early calling of parliament,” said Champika Ranawa- ka, an ex- minister and a key organiser of the event.

Mr Wickremesinghe said in his address that the movement calling for recalling Parliament would be taken to places outside the capital to ensure democratic rights of people.

At the rally, an activist held a placard that read, “I am not here for Ranil but I am here for democracy and good governance”.

Thousands gathered at the Liberty Plaza junction in central Colombo which included UNP activists and members of civil society groups and citizens.

The UNP claimed about 100,000 people thronged the rally, though police sources estimated the number at 25,000.

Sri Lanka, a Buddhistmajority nation in the Indian Ocean, was plunged into chaos on Friday when Mr Sirisena sacked Mr Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister in a surprise move.