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.

Sri Lanka’s largest single party Saturday said it will mount a legal challenge against “tyrant” President Maithripala Sirisena’s shock sacking of the legislature.

Sri Lanka’s main Tamil parties have turned down a call from President Maithripala Sirisena to support his newly appointed prime minister in a likely floor test in parliament this month, the parties said on Friday.

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena dissolved parliament on Friday night and called a general election for Jan. 5 in a move that will likely deepen the country’s political crisis.

The Government announces that in pursue of the powers vested in the president by section 33 sub section 2 (C) of the constitution, the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is dissolved from mid night today (09th).

Four new ministers took their oaths before President Maithripala Sirisena this evening at the President’s Official Residence in Colombo.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratna today ordered the MP Ravi Karunanayake’s daughter to appear in Court on Monday.

UPFA MP Udaya Gammanpila has been sworn in as the new Cabinet Minister of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs before President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat.

UPFA MP Wimal Weerawansa was appointed as the Minister of Housing and Social Welfare by President Maithipala Sirisena a short while ago.

Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said he is willing to work with President Maithripala Sirisena, who abruptly sacked him on October 26, if given a chance to prove his majority in Parliament.

Gleaming cranes stretch out on the waterfront in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo as Chinese companies construct a $1.5 billion new commercial district, including hotels, marinas and a motor racing track. They have already built a giant container terminal nearby and a huge port in the south.