Sri Lanka: Country’s Top Court Overturns Sacking of Parliament by President Maithripala Sirisena

The country's apex court also ordered a halt on the preparations for snap elections after 13 fundamental rights petitions were filed against the dissolution of the Parliament.

Colombo: The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka on Tuesday overturned President Maithripala Sirisena‘s order to dissolve Parliament until December 7. The country’s apex court also ordered a halt on the preparations for snap elections.

The SC decision comes after the court adjourned hearing on the 13 fundamental rights petitions filed by several political parties including the United National Party (UNP), Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Tamil National Alliance (TNA), All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), civil organisation Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), former MP Mano Ganesan and Attorney Aruna Laksiri on November 12.

A three-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice Nalin Perera, Justice Priyantha Jayawardena and Justice Prasanna Jayawardene heard the petitions filed during November 12th’s hearing.

In a dramatic turn of events last month, Rajapaksha became the new Prime Minister of the Indian Ocean island nation after Sirisena sacked premier Wickremesinghe who termed the move as “unconstitutional” and vowed to prove his majority in Parliament.

The sudden development came amid growing tensions between Sirisena and former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on several policy matters.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been sworn-in as the Sri Lankan Prime Minister before President Maithripala Sirisena on October 26 after much political drama. President Sirisena sacked premier Ranil Wickremesinghe who termed the move as “unconstitutional” and vowed to prove his majority in Parliament.

Sirisena has been critical of Wickremesinghe’s policies, especially on economy and security. United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera while speaking to Ada Derana, said that the Speaker of Parliament has been notified of the decision in writing. As reported by Sri Lankan media, Rajapaksa replaced Ranil Wickremesinghe.

For the unversed, President Maithripala Sirisena’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the main constituent party of the UPFA, and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP) had formed a unity government in August 2015 following the general election.