COLOMBO, Nov 5, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Thousands of supporters of former Sri
Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse headed for the capital on Monday to rally
in support of his controversial nomination as prime minister, as the island’s
constitutional crisis deepened.
Sri Lanka has been gripped by political turmoil since President Maithripala
Sirisena sacked his former ally, prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, on
October 26 and appointed Rajapakse in his place.
Busloads of Rajapakse followers were arriving Monday from across the
country for the rally planned near parliament in the capital Colombo.
Parliament has been suspended while Rajapakse seeks support for a vote of
confidence by tempting defectors from other parties.
The former strongman remains a popular if polarising figure in Sri Lanka
politics. His iron-fisted rule ended a long and bloody civil war that claimed
100,000 lives.
But his decade in power was marred by serious allegations of rights abuses,
corruption, forced disappearances and the persecution of the island’s
sizeable Tamil minority.
Tens of thousands attended a rally in support of Wickremesinghe last week,
who says his sacking was illegal and wants parliament reconvened to prove his
still commands majority support.
Parliamentary speaker Karu Jayasuriya has urged the president to call
together legislators, warning the dispute could end in a “bloodbath” if MPs
are barred from holding a vote.
In his most strongly worded statement to date, the speaker warned Monday
he would not recognise Rajapakse as prime minister and that the president had
violated the constitution by sacking Wickremesinghe and suspending
parliament.
“Until the new faction (of Rajapakse) is able to prove a majority in
parliament, I will recognise the situation that prevailed prior to October
26,” Jayasuriya said in a one-page statement.
“I have to agree with the majority of parliament who believe that the
president’s actions are undemocratic, unconstitutional and against all norms
of parliamentary procedure,” added Jayasuriya, who is originally from
Wickremesinghe’s United National Party but holds a neutral position in
parliament.
– Severe violations –
Sirisena announced on Sunday that parliament would reconvene on November
14, a week later than he had promised, prolonging the power struggle that has
crippled the country.
But his faction has pressed ahead with forming a new government, naming an
ally to a senior leadership post in parliament despite the speaker refusing
to recognise the appointment.
“Assumed the Office of Leader of the House in Sri Lanka parliament,” Dinesh
Gunawardena said on Twitter on Monday.
Rajapakse has also already assumed duties as Finance Minister, announcing
last week a slew of tax concessions and price cuts in a move seen as a sop to
voters.
Rajapakse loyalists have been accused of storming state media
organisations and other key institutions.
The Rajapakse family still wields enormous power and influence in Sri
Lanka, despite members of the clan and close officials being accused of
siphoning off billions of dollars during before his ouster in 2015.
But powerful forces oppose his appointment, suggesting his grip on power
could be tenuous and the rift between the rivals could widen.
Last week, Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya joined the speaker in
refusing to endorse Sirisena’s controversial sacking of Wickremesinghe for
Rajapakse.
Jayasuriya said it would be “inappropriate” for him to side either way —
but official sources said he took the unusual step to avoid publicly clashing
with Sirisena.