Sri Lanka Political Crisis: Will Continue to Extend Developmental Aid, Hope Democratic Values Will be Respected, Says India

Wickremesinghe was replaced by Mahinda Rajapaksa, a former president, who was accused of human rights abuses, brazen nepotism. Rajapaksa took oath as the new Prime Minister soon after the appointment.

New Delhi: Reacting over the ongoing political crisis in Sri Lanka, India on Sunday said that it is closely following recent political developments in the neighbouring country. “As a democracy and a close friendly neighbour, we hope that democratic values and constitutional process will be respected. We’ll continue to extend our developmental assistance to friendly people of Sri Lanka,” the Ministry of External Affairs said, a day after  Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Ranil Wickremesinghe from the Prime Minister post.

Wickremesinghe, on Friday, was replaced by Mahinda Rajapaksa, a former president, who was accused of human rights abuses, brazen nepotism. Rajapaksa took oath as the new Prime Minister soon after the appointment.

The President, in a letter sent to Wickremesinghe said he had been removed after the Sirisena-led United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) quit the national coalition government. Wickremesinghe called the move “illegal” and said a Prime Minister could only be sacked if he loses a no-confidence motion in Parliament. He vowed to continue on the post and called for Parliament to convene to prove his majority.

Earlier on Saturday, the newly-appointed Prime Minister secured a majority in the island’s 225-member Parliament ” He will continue to retain his job despite protests from the ruling United National Party (UNP)”, the Rajapaksa-led Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said.