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SRILANKA-POLITCS-LEAD
Sri Lanka Tamils push parliament to end crisis
COLOMBO, Nov 4, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Sri Lanka’s main Tamil party on Sunday
urged the president to reconvene parliament and end a worsening political
crisis, as the minority ethnic community emerge as kingmakers in the power
struggle.
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) could tip the balance should parliament
be recalled this week to decide between two rivals claiming the lawful right
to head Sri Lanka’s government.
The nation of 21-million has been gripped by constitutional turmoil since
President Maithripala Sirisena sacked his former ally, prime minister Ranil
Wickremesinghe, and his cabinet on October 26.
Wickremesinghe says his dismissal was illegal as he commands a greater
majority in parliament than Mahinda Rajapakse, the former strongman president
controversially installed in his place.
The TNA has already said it would vote against Rajapakse in a no-
confidence motion when parliament reconvenes.
Both rivals have been marshalling numbers behind the scenes, worrying
civil society groups who protested Sunday in the capital Colombo against the
horse-trading.
TNA legislator Dharmalingam Sithadthan said the president had called the
Tamil legislators to a meeting Wednesday — the same day parliament was
expected to reconvene.
“We have asked the president to immediately call parliament and end this
crisis,” TNA legislator Dharmalingam Sithadthan told AFP.
Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP) risks losing legislators to
Rajapakse’s camp as the days drag by.
Some members of his party have alleged they were offered portfolios and
huge amounts of money to switch allegiances.
Seven MPs have already switched sides and been granted portfolios under
Rajapakse’s new administration.
The Sunday Times of Colombo newspaper described the sacking of the prime
minister as “sheer political expediency” and outside the law.
The state-run Sunday Observer, now controlled by Rajapakse loyalists,
defended the change of government but acknowledged the crisis should be
resolved.
According to latest counts, Wickremesinghe now has 102 MPs from the 225-
seat assembly after another defection while Rajapakse and Sirisena also have
102.
Most of the remaining 21 MPs — including the TNA — are set to oppose
Rajapakse, observers said.
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) party, which has seven lawmakers,
said its members had also rejected offers to join the Sirisena-Rajapakse
camp.
Meanwhile, thousands of supporters continue to occupy Wickremesinghe’s
official residence saying they would resist any move by Sirisena to evict
their prime minister.
BSS/AFP/RY/1955 hrs