Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has summoned Parliament on Monday, officials said on Thursday, a move that could resolve the political crisis that arose after he sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and installed former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Sirisena has been under increasing political and diplomatic pressure to reconvene Parliament, which he had suspended till November 16, apparently to allow Rajapaksa to engineer crossovers from Wickremesinghe’s side.
The President has agreed to call a parliamentary session on November 5, officials at Rajapaksa’s office said.
Prior to the crisis, Wickramasinghe’s United National Party (UNP) had the backing of 106 parliamentarians while the Rajapaksa-Sirisena combine had 95 seats.
Rajapaksa has so far managed to rope in five lawmakers from Wickramasinghe’s party to bolster his strength to 101. One UNP lawmaker has offered his support to him.
Mahinda Rajapaksa had replaced Ranil Wickremesinghe after the latter was sacked by Sirisena. AP
It was, however, not immediately known if Rajapaksa has managed to secure 113 votes required to prove the majority.
Wickremesinghe, who has refused to accept his dismissal claiming to be the country’s legitimate premier, welcomed the development and said that democracy will prevail.
“The people's voices have been heard. Parliament will be reconvened on the 5th of November. Democracy will prevail,” he said in a tweet.
Talking to the BBC from his official residence Temple Trees, Wickremesinghe said: “I still remain the Prime Minister and I have the confidence of the majority of members of this House.
“The Constitution states that the president must appoint as Prime Minister the person who commands the confidence of Parliament and I am the person who has that. We have asked for the summoning of Parliament so I can prove my majority in the House,” he said.
Sirisena replaced Wickremesinghe with Rajapaksa in a dramatic turn of events last Friday and suspended Parliament after the sacked premier sought an emergency session to prove his majority.
On Wednesday, Sirisena and Parliament Speaker Karu Jayasuria discussed the issue.
Sirisena later indicated that he may call the session next week.