Political crisis in Sri Lanka further aggravates

The political crisis in Sri Lanka has further aggravated with a court of appeal restraining Mahinda Rajapaksa and his cabinet from functioning while President Maithripala Sirisena has refused to reappoint Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime minister. 

The interim order by court came last evening on petitions filed by MPs supporting Mr Wickremsinghe challenging the authority of Mr Rajapaksa to hold office as Prime Minister after he lost the no-confidence motion in parliament last month. Mr Rajapaksa in his reaction said that they will file an appeal before the Supreme Court today as they do not agree with it. 

He said that Supreme Court only is empowered to rule on constitutional provisions. The court has issued notices to Mr Rajapaksa and his cabinet to appear before it on next hearing. The order said while the decision would leave Sri Lanka without a government, allowing a set of persons who are not entitled



to function as the prime minister or the cabinet of ministers, would cause irremediable damage that poses far-reaching consequences to the whole country. 

The Supreme Court will also begin hearing today into petitions filed against President proclamation to dissolve parliament and hold early elections. The court had issued a stay order on the proclamation last month.

Meanwhile, the party leaders of United National Front (UNF) met President Sirisena last night in wake of court ruling and urged him to reappoint Mr Wickremsinghe as Prime minister again. A UNF leader said that President refused to reappoint Mr Wickremsinghe even if all the 225 MPs in parliament support him. 

The latter had welcomed the court ruling saying the victory of democratic institutions over whims of individuals is the legacy of good governance agenda.