Sri Lanka to Hold Snap Elections on January 5, Says President Maithripala Sirisena

Dismissing the 225-member assembly with effect from midnight, Sirisena signed an official notification clearing the way for a snap election nearly two years ahead of schedule, as per reports.

Colombo: President Sirisena has announced that Sri Lanka will hold snap elections on January 5, 2019. On Friday, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena sacked the parliament, hours after his party announced that he did not have a majority plus to get his prime ministerial nominee through the legislature, said a minister.

Dismissing the 225-member assembly with effect from midnight, Sirisena signed an official notification clearing the way for a snap election nearly two years ahead of schedule, as per reports.

“The election is likely to be held in early January,” the minister told the media after the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) said they were eight legislators short of a majority in the 225-member assembly that remains suspended.

Earlier President Maithripala Sirisena on Sunday announced reconvening of Parliament on November 14, which he had suspended two days after sacking Prime Minister Ranil Wickeremesinghe and replacing him with former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksha.

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 Wickremesinghe on several policy matters and the President has been critical of the Prime Minister and his policies, especially on economy and security.

(With inputs from agency)