Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday ordered the immediate dismissal of parliament, clearing the way for a snap election 10 months ahead of schedule, reports AFP from Colombo.
President Maithripala Sirisena dissolved the legislature "with effect from midnight today" in an official proclamation and said he would summon the new parliament to sit on September 1.
The president decreed that elections would be held across the island on August 17, with candidates given a week ending July 13 to file nomination papers, according to the official gazette notification.