Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court will hear a plea filed by Mahinda Rajapaksa on December 12 and 13. In a political crisis that shows no sign of abating, Sri Lanka is virtually without a functioning government.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has filed an appeal in the apex court against the Court of Appeal’s interim order restraining him and his cabinet from exercising their powers. The Court of Appeal’s order came in response to a petition filed by 122 MPs including ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who alleged that the new cabinet was appointed unconstitutionally by President Sirisena.
The petitioners accused Mahinda Rajapaksa and his ministers of taking governmental decisions despite the parliament passing two no-confidence motions on November 14 and 16.
The political crisis in Sri Lanka was triggered when President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Ranil Wickremesinghe and appointed former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister on 26 October.
Since then Ranil Wickremesinghe has been waging a political battle against Sirisena with the support of the Tamil National Alliance, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, and Janatha Vimukthi Perumuna apart from his United National Party.
The Sri Lankan political crisis has been further compounded by the tug of war between China and the US as both are trying to increase their sphere of influence in the region.
While the Trump administration is trying to undermine Srisena and Mahinda Rajapaksa, China is tacitly supporting both the leaders in their political battle against former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
India, which had earlier helped Sirisena to become president ensuring the defeat of pro-China Rajapaksa, is cautiously monitoring the unfolding political situation in Sri Lanka.
Sourse: sputniknews.com
