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The constitutional crisis in Sri Lanka continues.
Parliament Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said in a letter to the president Sunday that he continued to recognize the fallen prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, as a legitimate prime minister. The speaker said that Mr Wickremesinghe "still had the confidence of the majority of Parliament".
On Friday, President Maithripala Sirisena overthrew Wickremesinghe and replaced him with former president Mahinda Rajapakse. The president also sacked the cabinet and suspended the country's parliament until 16 November.
Members of the Wickremesinghe government said Friday's decision was a coup d'etat.
In his letter, President Jayasuriya said: "I consider it a primary duty to protect the rights and privileges of all members of Parliament, especially in the context of the serious political and constitutional crisis in the country".
The speaker said: "I consider this request as a fair and democratic request."
Wickremesinghe was rebellious on Saturday, saying he had the support of the majority in parliament and that he had no intention of leaving his post. "I have a majority, I will work as prime minister, I will remain as prime minister."
"What the president should now do immediately is summon parliament and vote, which is the democratic way to resolve this crisis," Jehan told the Associated Press. Perera, executive director of Sri Lanka's National Peace Council.
Rajapakse suppressed the uprising of the Tamil Tigers in Sir Lanka decades ago while he was in power, but he refused to acknowledge the abuses committed during the bloody civil war.
The US State Department called on both parties to "act in accordance with Sri Lanka's constitution, to refrain from violence and to respect the procedure".
