All-party meeting called by Lankan President fails to resolve ongoing political crisis

In Sri Lanka, the all party conference called by President Maithripala Sirisena failed to reach an agreement on resolving the impasse in parliament and the new government. The meeting was participated by new Prime Minster Mahinda Rajapaksa and ousted PM Ranil Wickremsinghe for the first time since the crisis began.

A leader of United National Party (UNP) said they told the President that they have a majority of more than 113 MPs in the parliament and can show it tomorrow. He said that if Rajapaksa side does not agree with no confidence motions brought against them this week, they can bring motion against the move. 

Another MP said the government side want to drag the impasse by giving excuses of procedure. The MPs on Rajapaksa side



accused speaker of not following procedure in voting over no confidence motions. 

Earlier, a  statement by President office said, the meeting was summoned with the intention to reach a consensus among all political parties to end the recent political unrest in parliament and maintain the parliamentary affairs. The meeting came as several western diplomats met the President yesterday and expressed concern over developments in Parliament. 

Sri Lankan parliament has been disrupted since Wednesday on the issue of no confidence motion against new government. Speaker has ruled the motion was passed with majority but government MPs have rejected the procedure and alleged the Speaker to be biased.