COLOMBO, Nov 10, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Sri Lanka plunged deeper into crisis
Saturday after President Maithripala Sirisena sacked parliament and called a
snap election, leaving the country facing a further two months of damaging
political paralysis.
Political parties representing a majority of members in the 225-member
parliament closed ranks to denounce the Friday night dissolution as illegal
and unconstitutional.
Shortly before sacking the legislature, Sirisena took over the police
department by attaching it to his defence ministry. He also took control of
the state printer, a crucial institution that publishes decrees and
proclamations.
He had already taken control of all state media outlets soon after
dismissing Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on October 26.
Sirisena set elections for January 5, almost two years ahead of schedule,
after it became clear that his designated prime minister — former president
Mahinda Rajapakse — could not prove his majority when the assembly was set
to reconvene on Wednesday.
Rajapakse, 72, was prime minister for two weeks without ever stepping into
parliament. He would now continue as a caretaker premier until a new
parliament meets on January 17.
A leader of Rajapakse’s party, Susil Premajayantha, said Sirisena sacked
the legislature to end the power struggle and allow people to elect a new
parliament.
“Now we have a caretaker government with limited functions,” Premajayantha
said. “We will conduct a free and fair election.”
He accused sacked premier Wickremesinghe of causing instability by
refusing to vacate his official residence, a charge rejected by him as well
as several other parties who together command a majority in parliament.
– Power struggle –
Rajapakse and ousted Wickremesinghe have been battling for power for two
weeks as international concern grew over the mounting turmoil in the
strategically important island nation.
Sirisena signed a decree dismissing the legislature in a bid to head off
any revolt against his actions which included suspending parliament for
nearly three weeks.
Wickremesinghe’s finance minister Mangala Samaraweera described the
parliament sacking as a desperate move by Sirisena.
“A desperate president without a majority, now resorts to more desperate
measures by illegally dissolving parliament,” Samaraweera said.
“All those who cherish democracy, decency and rule of law, must now rally
around and defeat the emerging tyranny.”
Rajapakse was yet address the nation after his disputed elevation, but
early Saturday attempted to justify the dissolution.
“… A general election will truly establish the will of the people and
make way for a stable country,” he said on Twitter.
There was no immediate comment from Wickremesinghe, but his United
National Party (UNP) said it will challenge Sirisena’s sacking while several
civil society groups were also planning to petition the Supreme Court against
what they see as an illegal action of the executive.
– US ‘deeply concerned’ –
The United States, the United Nations and the European Union have become
increasingly concerned, and Washington’s criticism of Sirisema’s move was
swift.
“The US is deeply concerned by news the Sri Lanka parliament will be
dissolved, further deepening the political crisis,” the US State Department
said in a statement.
“As a committed partner of Sri Lanka, we believe democratic institutions
and processes need to be respected to ensure stability and prosperity,” it
said.
Australia’s foreign minister expressed concern and said Sirisena’s action
“undermines Sri Lanka’s long democratic tradition and poses a risk to its
stability and prosperity”.
Just before sacking the parliament, Sirisena also inducted more ministers
into his cabinet. The move was seen as giving them access to state resources
in the run up to the January vote.
The leftist People’s Liberation Front (JVP), which regards the sacking of
Wickremesinghe as unconstitutional, accused Sirisena of trying to consolidate
his power grab.
“Dissolving parliament at this time is illegal and goes against the
constitution,” JVP general secretary Tilvin Silva told reporters.
Sirisena suspended parliament to give himself more time to engineer
defections but failed, according to the opposition.
Several legislators have said they were offered millions of dollars to
switch allegiance and at least eight had already jumped to the president’s
side.
Under international pressure Sirisena had agreed three times to lift the
suspension but changed his mind each time.
Wickremesinghe had late Thursday thanked his supporters in a Facebook
video for not letting Sri Lanka be “plunged into the darkness of
dictatorship”.
It was not immediately clear if he would vacate the official Temple Trees
residence following the dissolution of parliament.
The power struggle on the island of 21 million people has paralysed much
of the administration, according to legislators on both sides of the dispute.