The dissolution of the Sri Lankan Parliament by President Maithripala Sirisena was stayed by the country’s Supreme Court on Tuesday. The top court has also restrained the Election Commission from proceeding with elections. In its interim order on Tuesday, the Supreme Court stayed two gazettes — one dissolving the Parliament, and the other ordering snap polls for January 5.
Effective from Saturday, Sirisena had signed an official gazette notification dissolving the 225-member Parliament. The country’s top court has now stayed the gazette till December 7, and fixed the date for the next hearing on December 5, 6 and 7 reported Roel Raymond, a journalist with Sri Lankan online newspaper Daily News. As of now, the parliament will be convened on November 14.
Sri Lanka has been facing political turmoil since October 26, when President Sirisena sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, and appointed former president Mahinda Rajapaksa to the post. Wickremesinghe, who called his sudden dismissal illegal, has urged Parliament to convene immediately to prove his majority in the 225-member unicameral chamber. President Sirisena then suspended Parliament until November 14.
Following the judgement, the United National Party – of which Ranil Wickremesinghe is the leader, said, “We thank the judiciary, lawyers and the public for their support. This interim order against the dissolving of Parliament is a milestone in our fight for Democracy.”
We thank the judiciary, lawyers and the public for their support. This interim order against the dissolving of Parliament is a milestone in our fight for Democracy.#lka #SriLanka #coupLK
— UNP (@officialunp) November 13, 2018
We are looking forward to returning to Parliament and regaining control of the government that was illegally removed from our purview.#lka #SriLanka #coupLK
— UNP (@officialunp) November 13, 2018
Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the people have won their first victory.
“The people have won their first victory. Let's go forward and re-establish the sovereignty of the people in our beloved country.”
The people have won their first victory. Let's go forward and re-establish the sovereignty of the people in our beloved country.
— Ranil Wickremesinghe (@RW_UNP) November 13, 2018
The United National Party, the Tamil National Alliance and the People’s Liberation Front were some of the parties which moved the top court against Sirisena’s gazette.