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Sri Lanka parliament speaker heightens unrest warnings to president
COLOMBO, Oct 30, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Sri Lanka’s parliament speaker on
Tuesday stepped up his warnings to the country’s president that unrest could
erupt unless lawmakers are allowed to choose between two rival prime
ministers.
President Maithripala Sirisena suspended parliament after sacking Ranil
Wickremesinghe as prime minister and replacing him with former strongman
leader Mahinda Rajapakse.
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya — who on Monday warned of a “bloodbath” if
parliament remains shut — said in a letter to Sirisena that he had to recall
parliament “in the name of democracy”.
“If you do not, we will not be able to stop people taking alternate action
to protect their democratic rights,” Jayasuriya said in the letter seen by
AFP.
“In the name of democracy, I urge you to reconsider your decision to
prorogue parliament and allow justice to be served.”
Jayasuriya said more than 125 legislators in the 225-member legislature
had signed a petition seeking the reconvening of the assembly where
Wickremesinghe’s party is the biggest.
Wickremesinghe says Sirisena has suspended parliament to give Rajapakse
time to secure a majority.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1340 hrs