Colombo: Amid the ongoing crisis in Sri Lanka, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today said until a new team is capable of showing a majority in Parliament, he is compelled to accept the state of Parliament that existed before the change.
In a statement, he said he is compelled to do so as a majority in Parliament believe the changes that took place are unconstitutional and against tradition and have requested him to accept the Parliamentary situation that existed before the change.
Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena on Sunday announced reconvening of Parliament on 14 November, which he had suspended last month, two days after sacking Prime Minister Ranil Wickeremesinghe and replacing him with former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksha.
According to a gazette notification, issued by his Secretary Udaya R Seneviratne on Sunday evening, the Assembly would be recalled on 14 November.
In a dramatic turn of events, Rajapaksha was sworn in as new Prime Minister of the Indian Ocean island nation on 26 October after Sirisena sacked premier Wickremesinghe who termed the move as ‘unconstitutional’ and vowed to prove his majority in Parliament.
The sudden development came amid growing tensions between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe on several policy matters and the President has been critical of the Prime Minister and his policies, especially on economy and security.
Sirisena’s moves triggered a power struggle that some observers called a constitutional crisis. Wickremesinghe termed the Sri Lankan president’s move as ‘unconstitutional and illegal’ and refused to leave the official residence, claiming he was still the legally appointed Prime Minister.
He also demanded a floor test in Parliament, following which Sirisena suspended Parliament on 28 October till 16 November.
Wickremasinghe’s United National Party handed over a motion of no confidence against new Prime Minister Rajapaksa.
Foreign governments, rights groups, the United Nations have urged Sirisena to summon Parliament immediately and end the crisis.
Thousands of Sri Lankans also protested in Colombo last week demanding Sirisena immediately convene Parliament.