Sri Lanka political rivals tempt defectors to swing crisis

Wickremesinghe has 105 MPs while Rajapakse and Sirisena together have 98

Sri Lanka’s rival prime ministers battled to tempt lawmakers from opposing sides yesterday as they sought numbers to swing any parliamentary vote of confidence to end the country’s constitutional crisis.

Parliament has been suspended since President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Ranil Wickremesinghe as head of government last Friday and nominated former strongarm leader Mahinda Rajapakse for a spectacular return to frontline politics.

While Wickremesinghe has been backed by the United States and other countries in calling for the suspension to be lifted, both sides have been marshalling their support for a vote that will decide the rivals’ fate.

Rajapakse, 72, gave four legislators from Wickremesinghe’s party ministerial portfolios after persuading them to defect on Monday.

Wickremesinghe, who has refused to leave the prime minister’s residence since he was sacked, has in turn convinced two lawmakers from Sirisena’s camp to join his United National Party.

Following the defections, Wickremesinghe has 105 MPs in the 225-seat chamber while Rajapakse and Sirisena together have 98.

A majority of the 22 remaining MPs are expected to back Wickremesinghe in any vote but the horse-trading is sure to intensify, observers said.

A deputy minister in Wickremesinghe’s administration, Ranjan Ramanayake, accused China of paying for Rajapakse to buy legislators.