Sri Lanka court extends ban on president’s ruling

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 judgment for an unspecified date.

The courts reopen on Monday. Sirisena plunged the country into crisis on Oct. 26 when he fired Wickremesinghe and appointed Mahinda Rajapakse in his place. He then dissolved Parliament on Nov. 9 and called elections nearly two years ahead of schedule on Jan. 5.

Four days after he sacked Parliament, the court restored.