Rajapakse rally gathers as showdown toughens
COLOMBO: Thousands of supporters of former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse headed for the capital yesterday to rally in support of his controversial nomination as prime minister, as a political crisis deepened.
The island nation has been gripped by constitutional turmoil since President Maithripala Sirisena sacked his former ally, prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, on Oct 26 and appointed Rajapakse in his place.
Busloads of Rajapakse followers were set to arrive from across the country for the rally planned near parliament in the capital Colombo.
Parliament has been suspended while Rajapakse seeks support for a vote of confidence by tempting defectors from other parties.
Tens of thousands attended a rally in support of Wickremesinghe last week, amid warnings from the parliamentary speaker Karu Jayasuriya that the dispute could end in a “bloodbath” if MPs are barred from holding a vote.
In his most strongly worded statement to date, the speaker warned yesterday he would not recognise Rajapakse as prime minister and that the president had violated the constitution by sacking Wickremesinghe and suspending parliament.
“Until the new faction ( of Rajapakse) is able to prove a majority in parliament, I will recognise the situation that prevailed prior to October 26,” Jayasuriya said.
Sirisena announced on Sunday that parliament would reconvene on Nov 14, a week later than he had promised. – AFP