SRI LANKA CRISIS

Rajapakse vows to hold polls, leaves Sirisena’s party

Speaker says president usurped powers of MPs

Sri Lanka’s former strongman leader Mahinda Rajapakse yesterday vowed snap elections would go ahead to “seek a mandate from the people” after the president’s sacking of parliament plunged the country deeper into political turmoil, reports AFP.

Additionally, Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was appointed prime minister in a controversial move by President Maithripala Sirisena, yesterday ended his five-decade-long association with the SLFP and joined the newly-formed Sri Lanka People’s Party (SLPP), reports The Times of India.

Rajapaksa’s move signalled that he would contest the snap polls, to be held on January 5, under his own party banner and not that of Sirisena’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

The former president obtained the membership of the SLPP, launched by his supporters, on Sunday morning.

His father Don Alwin Rajapaksa was a founding member of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, which was formed in 1951.

The SLPP was formed last year by Rajapaksa’s supporters to create a platform for his re-entry into politics. The party in February’s local council election won two-third of the total 340 seats.

The 72-year-old strongman, who ruled Lanka for a decade from 2005, was unexpectedly defeated by his deputy, Sirisena, in the presidential election held in January 2015 with the support from Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP).

Ousted Sri Lanka PM ready for polls as legal action planned However, the power-sharing arrangement between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe became increasingly tenuous on several policy matters, especially on economy and security.

Finally, on October 26, Sirisena abruptly ousted Wickremesinghe and replaced him with Rajapaksa, after three-and-a-half years of an estranged relationship with him.

The island nation plunged into a constitutional crisis following the move. Sirisena had suspended parliamentary proceedings until November 16. Later, owing to domestic and international pressure, he issued a notice to reconvene parliament on November 14.

However, on Friday, Sirisena dissolved parliament and announced snap polls on January 5 next year after it became evident that he did not have enough support in the House to prove the premiership of Rajapaksa.

Rajapaksa needed the support of minimum 113 parliamentarians in the 225-member House to prove his majority.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s parliamentary Speaker yesterday accused President Maithripala Sirisena of “usurping” the rights of legislators and asked public servants not to carry out his “illegal orders”, reports AFP.

Karu Jayasuriya in a hard-hitting statement said Sirisena’s actions since October 26 to sack Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and dissolve parliament undermined the freedoms of the people. “I have watched over the last two weeks as the executive branch has seized the rights and usurped the powers of members of parliament who were elected to represent the people.

 

SRI LANKA CRISIS

Rajapakse vows to hold polls, leaves Sirisenas party

Speaker says president usurped powers of MPs

Sri Lankas former strongman leader Mahinda Rajapakse yesterday vowed snap elections would go ahead to seek a mandate from the people after the presidents sacking of parliament plunged the country deeper into political turmoil, reports AFP. Additionally, Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was appointed prime minister in a controversial move by President Maithripala Sirisena, yesterday ended his five-decade-long association with the SLFP and joined the newly-formed Sri Lanka Peoples Party (SLPP), reports The Times of India. Rajapaksas move signalled that he would contest the snap polls, to be held on January 5, under his own party banner and not that of Sirisenas Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). The former president obtained the membership of the SLPP, launched by his supporters, on Sunday morning. His father Don Alwin Rajapaksa was a founding member of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, which was formed in 1951. The SLPP was formed last year by Rajapaksas supporters to create a platform for his re-entry into politics. The party in Februarys local council election won two-third of the total 340 seats. The 72-year-old strongman, who ruled Lanka for a decade from 2005, was unexpectedly defeated by his deputy, Sirisena, in the presidential election held in January 2015 with the support from Wickremesinghes United National Party (UNP). Ousted Sri Lanka PM ready for polls as legal action planned However, the power-sharing arrangement between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe became increasingly tenuous on several policy matters, especially on economy and security. Finally, on October 26, Sirisena abruptly ousted Wickremesinghe and replaced him with Rajapaksa, after three-and-a-half years of an estranged relationship with him. The island nation plunged into a constitutional crisis following the move. Sirisena had suspended parliamentary proceedings until November 16. Later, owing to domestic and international pressure, he issued a notice to reconvene parliament on November 14. However, on Friday, Sirisena dissolved parliament and announced snap polls on January 5 next year after it became evident that he did not have enough support in the House to prove the premiership of Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa needed the support of minimum 113 parliamentarians in the 225-member House to prove his majority. Meanwhile, Sri Lankas parliamentary Speaker yesterday accused President Maithripala Sirisena of usurping the rights of legislators and asked public servants not to carry out his illegal orders, reports AFP. Karu Jayasuriya in a hard-hitting statement said Sirisenas actions since October 26 to sack Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and dissolve parliament undermined the freedoms of the people. I have watched over the last two weeks as the executive branch has seized the rights and usurped the powers of members of parliament who were elected to represent the people.