COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Thursday suspended parliament till next month in a surprise move amid a deepening power battle between him and his cohesion govt's prime minister.
A government decree quoted the president as pointing out that he had halted parliament's conferences "with effect from midnight" Thursday under article 70 of the charter.
The move, scheduled to final till May eight, came hours after a minimum of 16 Sirisena loyalists, together with six cabinet ministers, mentioned they would leave the stricken coalition.
Relations between the rival teams in the cohesion govt have soured after both suffered losses in February's native council elections.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP) had higher drive on the fans of Sirisena - who voted in opposition to Wickremesinghe in a up to date no-confidence movement - to renounce.
Parliament have been anticipated to meet once more next Thursday and presidential officials declined to comment on the reason for the suspension.
"We have been surprised by the announcement," one govt legislator who asked anonymity advised AFP.
Just hours before he announced the suspension of parliament, Sirisena had appointed performing ministers to the positions of those that hand over the Cabinet.
Wickremesinghe final week received the movement of no confidence moved through the joint opposition and backed through Sirisena's ministers.
With the assistance of minority Tamil and Muslim events, the premier defeated the movement -- dealing a blow to Sirisena, who had campaigned for Wickremesinghe to face down to permit him to appoint a major minister of his choice.
In recent weeks, Sirisena has reduced Wickremesinghe's powers, eliminating from his keep watch over the central financial institution, the policy-making National Operations Room and a number of other different institutions.
Former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa's birthday celebration trounced the UNP and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) in the February polls to win keep watch over of two-thirds of the 340 native councils at stake.
In the run-up to the election, Sirisena branded the prime minister and his birthday celebration as extra corrupt than the Rajapaksa regime, which Sirisena and Wickremesinghe collectively toppled in 2015.
Earlier Thursday, a presidential spokesman mentioned a much broader govt reshuffle would be announced next week.
The SLFP is to make a decision later this month if it's going to remain in govt. Rajapaksa is pressing for a 2020 national election to be introduced forward.
A government decree quoted the president as pointing out that he had halted parliament's conferences "with effect from midnight" Thursday under article 70 of the charter.
The move, scheduled to final till May eight, came hours after a minimum of 16 Sirisena loyalists, together with six cabinet ministers, mentioned they would leave the stricken coalition.
Relations between the rival teams in the cohesion govt have soured after both suffered losses in February's native council elections.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP) had higher drive on the fans of Sirisena - who voted in opposition to Wickremesinghe in a up to date no-confidence movement - to renounce.
Parliament have been anticipated to meet once more next Thursday and presidential officials declined to comment on the reason for the suspension.
"We have been surprised by the announcement," one govt legislator who asked anonymity advised AFP.
Just hours before he announced the suspension of parliament, Sirisena had appointed performing ministers to the positions of those that hand over the Cabinet.
Wickremesinghe final week received the movement of no confidence moved through the joint opposition and backed through Sirisena's ministers.
With the assistance of minority Tamil and Muslim events, the premier defeated the movement -- dealing a blow to Sirisena, who had campaigned for Wickremesinghe to face down to permit him to appoint a major minister of his choice.
In recent weeks, Sirisena has reduced Wickremesinghe's powers, eliminating from his keep watch over the central financial institution, the policy-making National Operations Room and a number of other different institutions.
Former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa's birthday celebration trounced the UNP and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) in the February polls to win keep watch over of two-thirds of the 340 native councils at stake.
In the run-up to the election, Sirisena branded the prime minister and his birthday celebration as extra corrupt than the Rajapaksa regime, which Sirisena and Wickremesinghe collectively toppled in 2015.
Earlier Thursday, a presidential spokesman mentioned a much broader govt reshuffle would be announced next week.
The SLFP is to make a decision later this month if it's going to remain in govt. Rajapaksa is pressing for a 2020 national election to be introduced forward.
Sri Lanka president suspends parliament until May 8
![Sri Lanka president suspends parliament until May 8]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
April 13, 2018
Rating:
