Category: Local News

The Supreme Court has issued a stay order temporarily suspending the Gazette notification issued by the President on the dissolution of Parliament.

The Rupee crossed the 177 mark once again against the US Dollar as political uncertainty triggered by President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to dissolve parliament weighed on sentiment.

The Attorney General has requested the Supreme Court to dismiss all petitions filed against the dissolution of Parliament as the President’s decision is consistent with the Constitution of Sri Lanka.

Five petitions of intervention have been filed at the Supreme Court in support of the President’s decision to dissolve Parliament and call a General Election.

Amidst the intensifying political crisis in the country, a cross-section of Parliamentarians of the United National Party (UNP) openly requested Party Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa to be the UNP Leader and the Prime Ministerial Candidate of the UNP in any General Election in the future.

President Maithripala Sirisena has asked that all former MPs, State Ministers and Deputy Ministers return their vehicles and public property to the relevant Ministry Secretary to avoid having legal action taken against them under the Election law.

Eight Western countries stayed away from a meeting with Sri Lanka’s government on Monday to register their protest against President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to dissolve parliament, diplomatic and government sources said.

The petitions filed against the dissolution of Parliament were taken up for hearing by the Supreme Court today (November 12). The cases were heard by a 3 judge bench headed by Chief Justice Nalin Perera.

The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) was ready to work with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) or any party who called themselves as leftists at this juncture where the county was embroiled in a devastating situation in terms of politics, the economy and the Constitution, FSP Education Secretary Pubudu Jayagoda said.

Thirteen Sri Lankan regime opponents have been imprisoned in Israel for two weeks and deprived of rights, according to a report by KAN Bet.

A total of 10 petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court against the issuance of the 2096/70 Gazette, purportedly dissolving Parliament.

Issuing a special statement, President Maithripala Sirisena addressed the nation last evening (11) with regard to the dissolution of the parliament.

Sri Lanka’s new prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and 44 former lawmakers have defected from the party led by President Maithripala Sirisena, splitting with the president barely two weeks after he installed Rajapaksa in office.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has obtained the membership of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), at his official residence, Wijerama road, Colombo.

Tamil Nadu political parties, including the main opposition DMK Saturday termed the dissolution of the Sri Lankan Parliament as “murder of democracy”.

Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to dissolve parliament, worsening an already major political crisis, has drawn criticism from Western powers, including the United States and Britain.