Sirisena’s all- party crisis talks fail to end political stalemate in Colombo
Sunday for what widely regarded as negotiations.
All three men were at the Presidential Secretariat building for nearly two hours with their aides and party seniors -- but failed to end the political deadlock.
Wickremesinghe has demanded his government be restored, challenging Rajapakse to demonstrate a majority in the 225- member assembly. were crucial
But brawling erupted in parliament Friday with Rajapakse loyalists smashing furniture, throwing chilli powder and launching projectiles at rivals in a bid to disrupt a no- confidence motion against him.
Rajapakse's party has admitted that they lacked a simple majority in the legislature. Their rivals accuse them of delaying a vote because they do not yet have the required number of MPs.
"He ( Rajapakse) must submit himself to a floor test," said Lakshman Kiriella, an MP from Wickremesinghe's United National Party.
"Otherwise he cannot run a government."
Kiriella said the United National Party and their allies have twice demonstrated that they had 122 legislators — nine more than the 113 required to demonstrate an absolute majority. Rajapakse's legislator son Namal confirmed the talks had failed and said they would press for the snap election which was called by Sirisena on November 9 -- though later suspended by the Supreme Court until it determines the legality of an early vote.
"We reiterate our call for a general election so that people can decide who should be their government," Namal Rajapakse said on Twitter.
Sirisena said the parties agreed on Sunday to ensure the peaceful conduct of parliament when it meets again on Monday afternoon.
According to his office, the president called Sunday's meeting "in order to end the current political unrest and conflict situation and to allow the normal functioning of the parliament".