Mahinda Rajapaksa | The Asian Age

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Sirisena dissolved Parliament on November 9 and announced snap polls on January 5 next year after it became evident that he did not have enough support in the House. (Photo: File)

Key Lankan parties, EC member move Supreme Court against President Sirisena

Sirisena on Sunday stoutly defended his move to dissolve Parliament, saying it was taken to prevent clashes among rival lawmakers.

12 Nov 2018 3:36 PM

The SLPP was formed last year by Rajapaksa's supporters to create a platform for his re-entry into politics. The party in February's local council election won two-third of the total 340 seats. (Photo: File)

Rajapaksa ends 50-yr association with Sirisena's party, joins newly-formed SLPP

Rajapaksa's move signaled that he would contest snap polls, to be held on Jan 5, under his own party banner and not that of SLFP.

11 Nov 2018 6:57 PM

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena (Photo: AP)

Sri Lanka’s clash of civilisations

Wickremesinghe finds himself not only jobless but once again rootless, especially in terms of the earthiness of Sri Lankan politics.

11 Nov 2018 12:05 AM

Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena (Photo: AP)

Sri Lanka President’s actions undemocratic

The saddest development in this unseemly power struggle is how the democratic institution of Parliament has been disrespected.

11 Nov 2018 12:00 AM

Sri Lanka's Parliament stands dissolved some 21 months ahead of its schedule in August 2020, amid a worsening Constitutional crisis triggered by the surprise sacking of Wickremesinghe. (Photo: File)

Sri Lanka crisis: Wickremesinghe's party to fight parliament dissolution in court

Sirisena had called for January polls after it was clear Rajapaksa wouldn't command majority in legislature.

10 Nov 2018 7:31 PM

Sirisena signed a decree dismissing the 225-member assembly and scheduled parliamentary elections for January 5, nearly two years ahead of schedule. In a bid to head off any revolt against his action he also suspended parliament. (Photo: File)

Sri Lanka crisis: President Sirisena dissolves parliament, calls for snap polls

Sirisena called for January polls after it was clear Rajapaksa wouldn't command majority in legislature, a move opponents called illegal.

10 Nov 2018 1:20 PM

Sri Lankan Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said he wanted a floor test in parliament to resolve the issue of two prime ministers in the country which arose following the sacking of Ranil Wickremesinghe and replacing him with Mahinda Rajapaksa. (Photo: File | AP)

Sri Lankan Speaker Jayasuriya presses for floor test to resolve political crisis

His remarks come soon after he slammed President Sirisena, saying it was 'anti-democratic' to sack PM Wickremesinghe and suspend Parliament.

08 Nov 2018 11:52 AM

Jayasuriya says majority of parliamentarians view the change in PM as unconstitutional and in a letter to diplomats and foreign missions, said some of them were offered bribes and ministerial jobs to support the new government. (Photo: File)

Sri Lanka has suffered 'coup without guns', says Speaker Karu Jayasuriya

The entire matter was pre-planned and the events can only be described as a coup, albeit one without the use of tanks and guns, he said.

07 Nov 2018 1:26 PM

So far, Rajapaksa has 100 MPs on his side while sacked prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has 103 MPs in the 225-member assembly. (Photo: File| AP)

Tamil prisoners may be released to tilt scales in favour of Lanka PM Rajapaksa

Tamils say some of the prisoners have been held over a long time under an anti-terrorism law without even being formally charged.

04 Nov 2018 1:00 PM

Guterres highlighted the Sri Lankan government's responsibility to ensure peace, security and respect for the rule of law. (Photo: File)

UN chief urges Lankan prez to allow vote in Parl 'as soon as possible'

The political turmoil began after Sirisena sacked PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and installed former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa in his place.

03 Nov 2018 3:27 PM

'President has decided to reconvene the parliament on 5th,' Rajapaksa said addressing a meeting at the prime minister’s office. (Photo: File)

Sirisena to reconvene Parl on Nov 5: Sri Lanka's new PM Rajapaksa

Sri Lanka’s president Sirisena named Mahinda Rajapaksa as PM on Friday after abruptly dismissing the government of Ranil Wickremesinghe.

01 Nov 2018 12:01 PM

A mustachioed man usually dressed in a spotless white shirt, sarong and trademark maroon sash, Rajapaksa is seen as a hero by many in Sri Lanka's Buddhist majority. He wears rings as lucky charms, sometimes as many as eight, and he has been called the 'lord of the rings'. (Photo: File)

India worried as Sri Lanka's 'Lord of the rings', pro-China, is back as PM

Rajapaksa has been accused by diplomats of serious human rights abuses in the war against rebels from the Tamil minority.

01 Nov 2018 11:42 AM

Surprises may loom as Lankan turmoil grows

In the 2015 presidential election, China allegedly funnelled funds to Rajapaksa through its port development budget.

31 Oct 2018 12:16 AM

Parliament has been suspended since President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Ranil Wickremesinghe as head of government last Friday and nominated former strongarm leader Mahinda Rajapaksa for a spectacular return to frontline politics. (Photo: File)

As Sri Lankan crisis deepens, Minister says China financing horse-trading

A deputy minister in Wickremesinghe's administration, Ranjan Ramanayake, accused China of paying for Rajapaksa to buy legislators.

30 Oct 2018 6:18 PM

Sri Lanka's sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickeremesinghe attends a media briefing in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (Photo | AP)

Sri Lanka braces for protest over PM Wickeremesinghe's sacking

He also suspended parliament in an apparent bid to shore up support for newly appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

30 Oct 2018 12:43 PM

The cricketer-turned-politician was arrested on Monday for the incident at his ministry premises when a petroleum worker died due to shooting by his security staff, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said. (Photo: ANI | Twitter)

Arjuna Ranatunga arrested over fatal shooting in Sri Lanka amid political crisis

One person succumbed to his injuries and two others were hospitalised in the shooting incident.

29 Oct 2018 5:54 PM

Asked about China's stand on the current political crisis in Sri Lanka considering that Beijing has made huge investments in the island nation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said China is following the crisis closely. (Photo: File)

Observing, not interfering in Sri Lanka's political crisis: China

Sri Lanka had plunged into political crisis since Sirisena sacked Wickramasinge and appointed Mahinda Rajapaksa as his successor.

29 Oct 2018 5:20 PM

Rajapaksa assumed the duties in the prime minister's secretariat which was not used by the ousted prime minister Wickremesinghe, officials from his Sri Lanka People's Party (SLPP) said. (Photo: PTI)

Mahinda Rajapaksa assumes charge as new Sri Lankan Prime Minister

Sirisena on Friday sacked Wickremesinghe and appointed Rajapaksa as new PM in surprise move that is being debated as constitutional coup.

29 Oct 2018 2:26 PM

Sri Lanka's former President and new Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse (Photo: AP)

India: Hope democratic values will be respected

Both India and China are jostling for influence in the island nation.

29 Oct 2018 1:57 AM

Sri Lanka's former President and new Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse gestures as he arrives at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy. (Photo: AFP)

Rajapaksa calls for snap polls in inaugural statement as new PM

New PM Rajapaksa announced snap polls though next parliamentary elections are not due before Feb 2020.

29 Oct 2018 1:26 AM

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Shobhaa De