Lanka heads for showdown as Rajapaksa rallies support
colombo — Former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa rallied tens of thousands of supporters in a show of strength on Monday even as the parliament’s speaker refused to recognise his controversial appointment as prime minister.
Busloads of men and women from around the country descended on the capital as Rajapaksa thanked President Maithripala Sirisena for sacking Ranil Wickremesinghe and appointing him in his place.
The move on October 26 triggered an unprecedented constitutional crisis, plunging the island into political turmoil.
“We have united to work for the people,” Rajapaksa said, referring to their previous rivalry when Sirisena defeated him for the presidency in 2015. Sirisena was supported by Wickremesinghe three years ago but the two men have gradually drifted apart, leading to Wickremesinghe’s shock sacking last month. Sirisena has suspended parliament, allowing Rajapaksa time to tempt defectors from other parties and prove his majority. But parliament’s speaker Karu Jayasuriya warned the president’s actions were illegal and he would not recognise Rajapaksa as prime minister. —