Mahinda Rajapaksa bows out, ending Sri Lanka power struggle
Sri Lanka’s crisis appeared to be over yesterday as Mahinda Rajapaksa bowed out of a power battle that had crippled the nation for seven weeks and sent it towards debt default.
Mr Rajapaksa, 73, held a multi-religious service at his home, where he signed a letter backing down from the post of prime minister given to him on October 26.
Hours after receiving blessings from the clergy, the former president pledged to make a comeback at local council elections.
“There is no doubt at all that the people who stood by us since 2015 will continue to support us in the future as well,” Mr Rajapaksa told associates.
“We will bring the forces opposed to the country down to their knees by organising the people.”
His aides said he was returning a fleet of limousines he had used since his appointment.
President Maithripala Sirisena triggered the political turmoil by sacking prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and replacing him with his former foe.
But Mr Wickremesinghe refused to step down, insisting that his sacking was illegal. The crisis left the nation of 21 million people with two men claiming the premiership.
Mr Rajapaksa was defeated in a no-confidence motion on November 14 but the next day, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya ruled that he would not recognise either man as prime minister, leaving Sri Lanka without a government.
The country was then heading for a government shutdown as Parliament failed to approve spending for next year and credit rating agencies downgraded its debt amid fears of a default.
There were doubts about the country’s ability to repay $1.5 billion (Dh5.5bn) due to bondholders by January 10 without a legally constituted administration.
Mr Rajapaksa’s son Namal had announced on Friday that his father, who as president ended Sri Lanka’s civil war in 2009 amid accusations of serious rights abuses, would resign “to ensure stability”.
The Supreme Court had earlier confirmed that he could not exercise the powers of a prime minister until he proved his legitimacy, which without enough support in parliament was impossible.
Mr Sirisena backed down and agreed on Friday to reinstate Mr Wickremesinghe today despite insisting he would never reappoint him as prime minister.
There was no comment from Mr Sirisena or his office yesterday. But an MP from his party, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, said on Friday night that the president agreed to back down to avoid a government shutdown after December 31.
On Wednesday, the legislature voted overwhelmingly to demand the reinstatement of Mr Wickremesinghe.
The leftist People’s Liberation Front says Mr Sirisena should be investigated for orchestrating “a coup” and that there should also be an impeachment process.
On Thursday Mr Sirisena suffered a major blow when the Supreme Court ruled that he had breached the constitution on November 9 by dissolving Parliament and calling early elections.