Sirisena announces the convocation of Parliament on November 14

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena announced on Sunday the resumption of the work of Parliament on November 14, which he suspended last month, two days after firing Prime Minister Ranil Wickeremesinghe and the replace by the old man strong Mahinda Rajapaksha.

According to a notice in the official gazette published by its secretary, Udaya R Seneviratne, on Sunday evening, the recall of the badembly would take place on November 14.

On October 26, Rajapaksha was appointed prime minister of the Indian Ocean island nation, after Sirisena dismissed Prime Minister Wickremeshe, described as "unconstitutional" and promising to prove his majority in Parliament.

This sudden development came amid growing tensions between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe over a number of policy issues. The president criticized the prime minister and his policies, especially in the area of ​​economy and security.

Sirisena's initiatives sparked a power struggle that some observers have described as a constitutional crisis.

Wickremesinghe qualifies as "unconstitutional and illegal" the decision of the Sri Lankan President and refuses to leave the official residence, claiming that he is still the legally appointed prime minister.

He also asks for a ground test in Parliament, after which Sirisena suspends Parliament from 28 October to 16 November.

Wickremasinghe's National Unity introduced a no-confidence motion against new Prime Minister Rajapaksa.

Lakshman Kiriella, a senior member of the UNP, said that the Secretary General of Parliament had been informed of the motion.

Since the suspension, President Karu Jayasuriya has been pressured by political parties to challenge Sirisena and re-convene its 225 members.

The suspension was seen as an initiative to help Sirisena's prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa win his parliamentary majority.

The Rajapaksa-Sirisena coalition has 96 deputies out of 225 members, 17 less than the required majority of 113.

But, with the defection of at least nine UNP legislators from Wickremesinghe and the main Tamil party, the TNA, Rajapaksha baderts that he only misses eight majority seats.

According to the parliamentary leaders, it was up to the leaders of the parliamentary parties to decide whether a ground test should be included on the agenda when the House resumed its work.

Foreign governments, human rights groups, the UN asked Sirisena to immediately call parliament and end the crisis.

Thousands of Sri Lankans also demonstrated in Colombo last week demanding that Sirisena call Parliament immediately.