Rajapaksa resigns as PM of Sri Lanka, Wickremesinghe will be reinstated
Sri Lanks’s ex-strongman, Mahinda Rajapaksa, was appointed as the Prime Minister President Sirisena. This was a very controversial move from the start. He recently resigned after a two-month power struggle. This was to end the political turmoil and pave the way for the return of ousted premier Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The 73-year-old ex-President signed a letter of resignation during a multi-religious service at his home that was attended several lawmakers of United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), Buddhist and other religious leaders.
Sirisena also agreed to reinstate Wickremesinghe. He agreed despite the fact that he was vehemently against his appointment as the Prime Minister.
Rajapaksa was not too happy about his resignation either. He was forced to resign after two crucial Supreme Court decisions made his efforts to cling to the premiership almost impossible.
His appointment the Prime Minister on October 26th President Sirisena plunged the country into an unprecedented constitutional crisis. He had sought to secure a majority in the 225-member parliament but failed. Sirisena then dissolved the Parliament and called snap elections on January 5th. However, the Supreme Court overturned his decision. They halted the preparations for snap polls. The Supreme Court unanimously declared that the dissolution of the Parliament Sirisena was “illegal”. They also refused to stay a court order restraining Rajapaksa, from holding the office of Prime Minister until it fully heard the case next month.
Rajapaksa said that he had no intention of remaining as Prime Minister without a general election being held. In order to not hamper the President in any way, he resigned from the position of Prime Minister and made way for the President to form a new government.
Rajapaksa has resigned and the new Prime Minister will take his place. Will this bring a new era for Sri Lanka?
