Top leaders wrangle in Sri Lanka

– President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday reignited the power struggle that has crippled Sri Lanka’s government for more than a month, vowing never to reappoint archrival Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister.

Wickremesinghe’s party has a majority in parliament and Sirisena’s bid to bring back the country’s former strongman Mahinda Rajapakse has already failed.

But Sirisena accused Wickremesinghe, who he sacked on October 26, of being “highly corrupt”. He added: “Even if the UNP has the majority, I told them not to bring Wickremesinghe before me, I will not make him prime minister,” he said, referring to Wickremesinghe’s United National Party. Sirisena dismissed Wickremesinghe after a host of clashes since they formed a coalition in 2015. He named Rajapakse as new premier and tried to dissolve parliament, but the Supreme Court and legislators blocked the moves.

Wickremesinghe, who occupies the prime minister’s residence, and Rajapakse, who has the premier’s official offices, have both refused to back down. Sirisena said he would appoint a commission to investigate corruption under Wickremesinghe.

Parliament meets on Tuesday and Thursday to discuss a motion by the UNP to cut off government spending. If the UNP wins it could force Rajapakse to withdraw and make Sirisena name a prime minister from the party.

But Sirisena said he would still not reappoint Wickremesinghe. “There is a tradition that the person appointed PM should be able to work with the president. I cannot work with Ranil. The UNP will have to bring somebody else.” – AFP