Government crisis in Sri Lanka worsens

In Sri Lanka, the crisis of the government reaches its climax after the dismissal of the head of government by the president. President Maithripala Sirisena today ordered the adjournment of Parliament until 16 November. He thus put an end to the dismissed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's attempt to stay in office.

Wickremesinghe wanted to summon the parliament to show that his government coalition had the majority of deputies behind him. He said that he had not acknowledged the appointment of the new head of government, Mahindra Rajapaksa.

President Sirisena unexpectedly recalled the Prime Minister yesterday and appointed his party colleague, former President Rajapaksa, to head the government. Rajapaksa has already taken office. In 2015, Sirisena won, after a break with Rajapaksa, the presidential election against the outgoing president, mainly thanks to the support of the party Wickremesinghe UNP. However, the ruling UNP and Sirisenas UPFA coalition has become increasingly divided in recent months. Yesterday, the UPFA announced its withdrawal from the coalition.