Court extends ban on president sacking parliament

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s highest court on Friday banned President Maithripala Sirisena from sacking the legislature until it decides on the legality of his move last month to call snap elections.

The Supreme Court concluded hearing 10 petitions against Sirisena’s move as part of a bitter power struggle with his erstwhile prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, but reserved judgement For An unspeciied DATE.

The courts reopen on Monday. Sirisena plunged the country into Crisis on OCTOBER 26 when HE ired Wickremesinghe and appointed the contentious Mahinda Rajapakse in his place.

He then dissolved parliament on November 9 and called elections nearly two years ahead of schedule on January 5.

Four days after he sacked parliament through a special decree, the Supreme Court issued an interim ruling suspending Sirisena’s action and restoring parliament, which almost immediately passed A no-conidence motion AGAINST Rajapakse.

“The court issued a fresh order extending the ban on the president until THE CASE Is CONCLUDED,” A Court OFICIAL told reporters after the unusually long hearing on Friday marking four days of legal arguments.

Security was stepped up outside the Supreme Court amid expectations of a inal ruling on FRIDAY EVENING.

The court’s seven-judge bench is expected to deliver a ruling on the constitutionality of Sirisena’s move as early as Monday.

Sacked premier Wickremesinghe’s party and their allies, who command a majority in the 225-member assembly, have suggested they could begin impeachment proceedings against Sirisena dependingontheruling.wickremesinghe’s party loyalists believe the court decision will go in their favour, a view held by many independent lawyers.

Problems for Sirisena were compounded on Monday when the Court of Appeal suspended the entire cabinet and asked Rajapakse to explain on what Authority HE was HOLDING OFICE.

With parliamentary proceedings degenerating into brawls, the United States, the European Union and other powers have raised concerns over the crisis in the strategically important island nation of 21 million people.

Only China has recognised the appointment of Rajapakse, who during his decade as president until 2015 relied heavily on Beijing for diplomatic and inancial support.