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Tight security as Sri Lanka court hears crucial case
COLOMBO, Nov 13, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Elite police commandos were on guard
outside Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court Tuesday as judges deliberated whether a
shock call for early elections was constitutional, more than two weeks into
the island nation’s political crisis.
President Maithripala Sirisena Friday dissolved parliament and called snap
elections for January 5, two weeks after firing the prime minister.
The moves sparked international alarm and supporters of the sacked premier
as well as a member of the election commission on Monday filed legal
challenges.
“We have several units of the STF (Special Task Force) reinforcing hundreds
of constables,” a senior police official told AFP. “We fear clashes between
supporters of rival parties.”
On Monday dozens of people booed a legislator loyal to Sirisena as he
arrived at the court complex, prompting police to declare the site out of
bounds on Tuesday.
Sirisena’s opponents want the three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice
Nalin Perera to declare the president’s actions null and void. But the court
was set initially to decide whether it will proceed with the case.
If it decides to do so, it could order a suspension of preparations for the
snap elections.
It was unclear when the judges would hand down a ruling, or what their
decision might be.
Sirisena summarily dismissed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and
appointed former strongman leader Mahinda Rajapakse in his place on October
26.
Both men are claiming the premiership, and Wickremesinghe is holed up in
the prime minister’s official residence and refusing to leave.
The United States has led a chorus of international concern over events in
the strategically important Indian Ocean island nation of 21 million people.
Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP), the main opposition Tamil
National Alliance (TNA) and the leftist People’s Liberation Front (JVP), who
together enjoy an absolute majority in parliament, want the assembly
restored.
Legal experts say the dissolved parliament would have to be restored if the
Supreme Court holds with the petitioners.
If not, the January 5 snap election called by Sirisena will have to go
ahead.
Independent election monitors have also questioned the legality of the poll
that would come nearly two years ahead of schedule.
On Sunday night, speaker Karu Jayasuriya urged civil servants to defy
Sirisena’s “illegal orders”.
But later Sirisena defended his actions, saying violence among rival MPs
could have led to “civil unrest” across Sri Lanka if the legislature had met
as scheduled this week.
Wickremesinghe rejected this outright, saying Sirisena had “brushed aside
the constitution” in sacking the legislature.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1450 hrs