Sri Lanka’s political crisis worsens as President suspends Parliament
COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena suspended parliament on Saturday to forestall a challenge against his surprise ouster of the prime minister, deepening a sudden swell of political turmoil in the island nation.
Police cancelled all leave as tensions heightened in Colombo a day after the president dismissed Ranil Wickremesinghe and replaced him with controversial former strongman leader Mahinda Rajapakse, who ended the country’s long civil war but was accused of rights abuses and rampant corruption.
Parliamentary officials said the president had suspended parliamentuntilnovember16.wickremesinghe had earlier demanded an emergency session to prove he still commanded a majority. Wickremesinghe continued to occupy Temple Trees, the official residence of the prime minister, and insisted in a letter to Sirisena that he was still in office.
“Get this controversy out of the way,” Wickremesinghe told reporters in a press conference at the residence. “Reconvene parliament immediately so that I can prove my majority.”
Parliamentary sources said Speaker Karu Jayasuriya would now have to decide if he recognised Rajapakse or Wickremesinghe as the prime minister.
The falling out between the two former allies has come to a rapid head since Sirisena earlier this year backed a no-confidence motion against the man he had handpicked to lead the government. Sirisena initially said he would be a one-term president, but later indicated he will seek a second term that would pit him against Wickremesinghe who also has presidential ambitions.
The crisis, which follows similar turmoil in the neighbouring Maldives, has stirred international concern.
The United States called on all sides to abide by Sri Lanka’s constitution and refrain from violence. European Union ambassadors in Colombo issued a similar message on Saturday.
Rajapakse is seen as being closer to China than Wickremesinghe, who had sought to re-establish stronger ties with traditional ally India.
Overnight, Rajapakse loyalists stormed two state-owned television networks -- which they regard as loyal to Wickremesinghe’s outgoing government -and forced them off the air. They resumed broadcasting Saturday.