15th Parliament of Sri Lanka


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The 15th Parliament of Sri Lanka was the meeting of the Parliament of Sri Lanka with its membership determined by the results of the 2015 parliamentary election, held on 17 August 2015. The parliament met for the first time on 1 September 2015 and was dissolved on 3 March 2020.

15th Parliament of Sri Lanka
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Overview
Legislative bodyParliament of Sri Lanka
Meeting placeSri Lankan Parliament Building
Term1 September 2015 – 3 March 2020
Election17 August 2015
Websiteparliament.lk
Parliamentarians
Members225
SpeakerKaru Jayasuriya (UNP)
Deputy Speaker and
Chairman of Committees
Deputy Chairman of CommitteesSelvam Adaikalanathan (TELO)
Prime Minister
Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the HouseLakshman Kiriella (UNP)
Chief Government WhipGayantha Karunathilaka (UNP)
Chief Opposition Whip
Sessions
1st1 September 2015 – 12 April 2018
2nd8 May 2018 – 27 October 2018
3rd14 November 2018 – 3 March 2020
 
Winners of polling divisions.
UNFGG in   
UPFA in   
TNA in   

The 15th parliamentary election was held on 17 August 2015.[1][2][3][4] The incumbent United National Party (UNP)-led United National Front for Good Governance (UNFGG) won 106 seats, an increase of 46 since the 2010 election, but failed to secure a majority in Parliament.[5] The main opposition alliance, the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) won 95 seats, a decline of 49.[5][6] The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the largest party representing Sri Lankan Tamils, won 16 seats, an increase of two from 2010.[5] The remaining eight seats were won by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (6), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (1) and Eelam People's Democratic Party (1).[7]

 
PartyVotes%Seats
DistrictNationalTotal
United National Front for Good Governance[i]5,098,91645.669313106
United People's Freedom Alliance[ii]4,732,66442.38831295
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna543,9444.87426
Tamil National Alliance[iii]515,9634.6214216
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress44,1930.40101
Eelam People's Democratic Party33,4810.30101
All Ceylon Makkal Congress33,1020.30000
Democratic Party28,5870.26000
Buddhist People's Front[iv]20,3770.18000
Tamil National People's Front[v]18,6440.17000
Ceylon Workers' Congress17,1070.15000
Frontline Socialist Party7,3490.07000
United People's Party5,3530.05000
Other parties24,4670.22000
Independents42,8280.38000
Total11,166,975100.0019629225
Valid votes11,166,97595.57
Invalid/blank votes517,1234.43
Total votes11,684,098100.00
Registered voters/turnout15,044,49077.66
Source: Election Commission, Election Commission
  1. ^ The UNFGG contested under the name and symbol of UNP. The alliance consisted of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress(which contested separately in one district, Ampara), the Democratic National Movement, Jathika Hela Urumaya, the Muslim Tamil National Alliance, the National Front for Good Governance, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (which contested separately in two districts, Batticaloa and Vanni), the Tamil Progressive Alliance (the Democratic People's Front, the National Union of Workers and the Up-Country People's Front), the United Left Front and the United National Party.
  2. ^ Consisting of the Ceylon Workers' Congress (which contested separately in three districts, Badulla, Kandy and Kegalle), the Citizen's Front (which contested separately in two districts, Nuwara Eliya and Vanni), the Democratic National Front, the Democratic People's Congress, the Liberal Party (which contested separately in four districts, Colombo, Galle, Kurunegala and Matara), Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, the National Congress, the National Freedom Front, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, the Socialist Alliance (the Communist Party of Sri Lanka, Democratic Left Front, Lanka Sama Samaja Party, National Liberation People's Party and Sri Lanka People's Party), the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal and the United Citizens’ Front.
  3. ^ The TNA contested under the name and symbol of Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi. It consisted of the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front, Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi, the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam and the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization.
  4. ^ Bodu Bala Sena and the United Lanka Great Council
  5. ^ Contested under the name and symbol of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress.

The new parliament was sworn in on 1 September 2015.[8] Karu Jayasuriya was elected Speaker, Thilanga Sumathipala as the Deputy Speaker and Selvam Adaikalanathan as the Deputy Chairman of Committees.[9][10] Lakshman Kiriella was appointed Leader of the House and Gayantha Karunathilaka was appointed Chief Government Whip.[11][12]

The Speaker recognised TNA leader R. Sampanthan as Leader of the Opposition on 3 September 2015.[13][14] JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake was nominated to be Chief Opposition Whip.[15][16]

The Parliament became a Constitutional Assembly on 9 March 2016 in order to formulate a new constitution for Sri Lanka.[17]

Thilanga Sumathipala resigned as Deputy Speaker on 25 May 2018.[18][19] His replacement Ananda Kumarasiri was elected on 5 June 2018.[20][21]

Following the withdrawal of the UPFA from the national government, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Mahinda Amaraweera were recognised as Leader of the Opposition and Chief Opposition Whip respectively on 18 December 2018.[22][23]

On 20 August 2015, the central committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the main constituent party of the UPFA, agreed to form a national government with the UNP for two years.[24][25] Ranil Wickremesinghe, leader of the UNP, was sworn in as Prime Minister on 21 August 2015.[26][27] Immediately afterwards, a memorandum of understanding to work together in Parliament was signed by acting SLFP general secretary Duminda Dissanayake and UNP general secretary Kabir Hashim.[28][29] On 3 September, Parliament voted by 143 votes (101 UNFGG, 40 UPFA, 1 EPDP, 1 SLMC) to 16 votes (11 UPFA, 5 JVP), with 63 absent (43 UPFA, 16 TNA, 3 UNFGG, 1 JVP), to approve the formation of a national government.[30][31]

Three UNFGG cabinet ministers were sworn in on 24 August 2015.[32][33] A further 39 cabinet ministers, 28 from the UNFGG and 11 from the UPFA, were sworn in on 4 September 2015.[34][35] Three more cabinet ministers, one from the UNFGG and two from the UPFA, were sworn in on 9 September 2015.[36][37] 19 state ministers (11 UNFGG, 8 UPFA) and 21 deputy ministers (11 UNFGG, 10 UPFA) were also sworn in on 9 September 2015.[38][39] Two more deputy ministers, both from the UPFA, were sworn in on 10 September 2015.[40][41] A further cabinet minister from the UPFA was sworn in on 23 October 2015.[42][43] A further cabinet minister from the UNFGG was sworn in on 25 February 2016.[44][45][46] A UPFA state minister and two deputy ministers (one UNFGG, one UPFA) were sworn in on 6 April 2016.[47][48]

Constitutional crisis

edit

The UPFA withdrew from the national government on 26 October 2018.[49][50] President Maithripala Sirisena, leader of the UPFA, dismissed Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and replaced him with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.[51][52][53][54] The following day Sirisena prorogued Parliament.[55][56] A constitutional crisis ensued as the UNP refused to accept the changes, describing them as unconstitutional, illegal and a coup.[57][58] Over the next few days, Sirisena appointed a new cabinet consisting of MPs from the UPFA, EPDP and defections from the UNP.[59][60][61] Despite the defections, the UPFA could not muster the support of a majority of MPs and with the TNA, which held the balance of power in Parliament, announcing that it would support a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Rajapaksa, Sirisena dissolved parliament on 9 November 2018 and called for fresh elections on 5 January 2019.[62][63][64] The UNP, TNA, JVP and several others challenged the dissolution in the Supreme Court which on 13 November 2018 issued a stay on the dissolution until 7 December 2018.[65][66][67]

Parliament re-convened on 14 November 2018 when 122 (100 UNFGG, 14 TNA, 6 JVP, 2 UPFA) out of 225 MPs supported the motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Rajapaksa.[68][69][70] Sirisena and the UPFA refused to accept the motion of no confidence, saying that Speaker Karu Jayasuriya had not followed parliamentary procedures.[71][72] On 16 November 2018, parliament passed an amended motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Rajapaksa with the support of 122 MPs.[73][74] Sirisena rejected the second the motion of no confidence as well, saying that he would not re-appoint Wickremesinghe as prime minister.[75][76]

On 3 December 2018, following a quo warranto petition filed by 122 MPs, the Court of Appeal issued an interim order restraining Rajapaksa and 48 ministers from functioning.[77][78][79] On 12 December 2018, 117 MPs, including 14 from the TNA, supported a motion of confidence in Wickremesinghe.[80][81] A seven-bench Supreme Court unanimously ruled on 13 December 2018 that Sirisena's dissolution of parliament on 9 November 2018 was unconstitutional and null, void ab initio and without force or effect in law.[82][83][84] The following day a three-bench Supreme Court refused to vacate the Court of Appeal's interim order but allowed for a full appeal to be heard in mid January 2019.[85][86] Rajapaksa resigned as Prime Minister on 15 December 2018,[87][88] and Wickremesinghe was sworn in as Prime Minister the following day, ending the crisis.[89][90]

2015
Act No. # Act Certified Text
9/2015 1 Inland Revenue (Amendment) Act 2015 30 October [1]
10/2015 2 Finance Act 2015 30 October [2]
11/2015 3 Value Added Tax (Amendment) Act 2015 30 October [3]
12/2015 4 Nation Building Tax (Amendment) Act 2015 30 October [4]
13/2015 5 Economic Service Charge (Amendment) Act 2015 30 October [5]
14/2015 6 Betting & Gaming Levy (Amendment) Act 2015 30 October [6]
2016
Act No. # Act Certified Text
1/2016 7 Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Act 2016 17 February [7]
2/2016 8 Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Amendment) Act 2016 17 February [8]
3/2016 9 National Minimum Wage of Workers Act 2016 23 March [9]
4/2016 10 Budgetary Relief Allowance of Workers Act 2016 23 March [10]
5/2016 11 Prescription (Special Provisions) Act 2016 26 April [11]
6/2016 12 Microfinance Act 2016 20 May [12]
7/2016 13 Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Agreement (Ratification) Act 2016 30 May [13]
8/2016 14 Registration of Persons (Amendment) Act 2016 7 July [14]
9/2016 15 Mediation Board (Amendment) Act 2016 21 July [15]
10/2016 16 Homoeopathy Act 2016 27 July [16]
11/2016 17 National Research Council Act 2016 27 July [17]
12/2016 18 Right to Information Act 2016 4 August [18]
13/2016 19 Fiscal Management (Responsibility) (Amendment) Act 2016 23 August [19]
14/2016 20 Office on Missing Persons (Establishment, Administration & Discharge of Functions) Act 2016 23 August [20]
15/2016 21 Animal Feed (Amendment) Act 2016 7 September [21]
16/2016 22 Registration of Deaths (Temporary Provisions) (Amendment) Act 2016 7 September [22]
17/2016 23 Universities (Amendment) Act 2016 5 October [23]
18/2016 24 Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act 2016 17 October [24]
19/2016 25 Law Commission (Amendment) Act 2016 17 October [25]
20/2016 26 Value Added Tax (Amendment) Act 2016 1 November [26]
21/2016 27 Ports & Airports Development Levy (Amendment) Act 2016 7 November [27]
22/2016 28 Nation Building Tax (Amendment) Act 2016 7 November [28]
23/2016 29 Appropriation (Amendment) Act 2016 7 November [29]
24/2016 30 Appropriation Act 2016 10 December [30]
2017
Act No. # Act Certified Text
1/2017 31 Medical (Amendment) Act 2017 21 February [31]
2/2017 32 Divineguama (Amendment) Act 2017 21 February [32]
3/2017 33 Land (Restrictions on Alienation) (Amendment) Act 2017 22 February [33]
4/2017 34 Engineering Council, Sri Lanka Act 2017 9 March [34]
5/2017 35 Revocation of irrevocable Deeds of Gift on the ground of Gross Ingratitude Act 2017 4 April [35]
6/2017 36 National Transport Commission (Amendment) Act 2017 7 April [36]
7/2017 37 Economic Service Charge (Amendment) Act 2017 17 May [37]
8/2017 38 Civil Procedure Code (Amendment) Act 2017 7 June [38]
9/2017 39 Office on Missing Persons (Establishment, Administration and Discharge of Functions) (Amendment) Act 2017 3 July [39]
10/2017 40 Registration of Electors Act 2017 21 July [40]
11/2017 41 Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Amendment) Act 2017 25 July [41]
12/2017 42 Foreign Exchange Act 2017 28 July [42]
13/2017 43 Nation Building Tax (Amendment) Act 2017 9 August [43]
14/2017 44 Sugathadasa National Sports Complex Authority (Amendment) Act 2017 17 August [44]
15/2017 45 Ceylon German Technical Training Institute Act 2017 24 August [45]
16/2017 46 Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Act 2017 31 August [46]
17/2017 47 Provincial Councils Elections (Amendment) Act 2017 22 September [47]
18/2017 48 Motor Traffic (Amendment) Act 2017 3 October [48]
19/2017 49 Sri Lanka Sustainable Development Act 2017 3 October [49]
20/2017 50 Municipal Councils (Amendment) Act 2017 12 October [50]
21/2017 51 Urban Councils (Amendment) Act 2017 12 October [51]
22/2017 52 Pradeshiya Sabhas (Amendment) Act 2017 12 October [52]
23/2017 53 Regulation of Insurance Industry (Amendment) Act 2017 19 October [53]
24/2017 54 Inland Revenue Act 2017 24 October [54]
25/2017 55 Electronic Transactions Act (Amendment) Act 2017 2 November [55]
26/2017 56 Judicature (Amendment) Act 2017 17 November [56]
27/2017 57 Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses (Amendment) Act 2017 17 November [57]
28/2017 58 Local Authorities (Special Provisions) Act 2017 17 November [58]
29/2017 59 Prevention of Crimes (Amendment) Act 2017 18 November [59]
30/2017 60 Appropriation Act 2017 9 December [60]
31/2017 61 Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Act 2017 14 December [61]
32/2017 62 Appropriation (Amendment) Act 2017 14 December [62]

The following are the changes in party and alliance affiliations for the 15th parliament.

Date Government Opposition Speaker Vacant Total
17 August 2015 106 119 0 0 225
1 September 2015 105 119 1 0 225
National Government
3 September 2015 147 76 1 1 225
9 September 2015 150 73 1 1 225
10 September 2015 152 71 1 1 225
15 September 2015 152 70 1 2 225
22 September 2015 152 72 1 0 225
23 October 2015 153 71 1 0 225
19 January 2016 151 71 1 2 225
26 January 2016 152 71 1 1 225
9 February 2016 153 71 1 0 225
6 April 2016 154 70 1 0 225
17 January 2017 153 71 1 0 225
19 September 2017 152 72 1 0 225
30 October 2017 151 73 1 0 225
2 November 2017 150 73 1 1 225
10 November 2017 151 73 1 0 225
10 December 2017 152 72 1 0 225
11 December 2017 153 71 1 0 225
28 December 2017 152 72 1 0 225
18 January 2018 151 72 1 1 225
6 February 2018 152 72 1 0 225
15 February 2018 154 70 1 0 225
8 May 2018 138 86 1 0 225
23 May 2018 137 86 1 1 225
8 June 2018 138 86 1 0 225
26 October 2018 105 119 1 0 225
UPFA Government
26 October 2018 97 127 1 0 225
28 October 2018 98 126 1 0 225
29 October 2018 100 124 1 0 225
30 October 2018 101 123 1 0 225
2 November 2018 103 121 1 0 225
4 November 2018 105 119 1 0 225
6 November 2018 104 120 1 0 225
14 November 2018 100 124 1 0 225
UNFGG Government
16 December 2018 103 121 1 0 225
18 December 2018 106 118 1 0 225

Light shading indicates majority (113 seats or more); dark shading indicates two-thirds majority (150 seats or more); no shading indicates minority government.

The 15th parliament saw a number of defections and counter-defections:

Deaths and resignations

edit

The 15th parliament saw the following deaths, resignations and disqualifications:

  1. ^ "Part I : Section (I) — General Proclamations & C., by the President A PROCLAMATION BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary. 1920/38. 26 June 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2015-08-21.
  2. ^ "Sri Lanka's president dissolves parliament". BBC News. 26 June 2015.
  3. ^ Ramakrishnan, T. (26 June 2015). "Sri Lankan Parliament dissolved". The Hindu.
  4. ^ "Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena dissolves parliament". Times of Oman. Agence France-Presse. 26 June 2015. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  5. ^ a b c "Bonus seats: UNP 13, UPFA 12". The Daily Mirror. 18 August 2015.
  6. ^ "Sri Lanka elections: UNP victory as Rajapaksa faces setback". BBC News. 18 August 2015.
  7. ^ Ramakrishnan, T. (18 August 2015). "UNP set to form next government". The Hindu.
  8. ^ "Front Row Seat for MR". Ceylon Today. 2 September 2015. p. A2. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  9. ^ "Karu appointed new Speaker". The Daily Mirror. 1 September 2015.
  10. ^ "Thilanga appointed Deputy Speaker". Ceylon Today. 1 September 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  11. ^ "Thilanga appointed Deputy Speaker". The Daily Mirror. 1 September 2015.
  12. ^ "Gayantha and Kiriella return to office". Ceylon Today. 1 September 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  13. ^ "Sampanthan new opposition leader". The Daily Mirror. 3 September 2015.
  14. ^ "R. Sampanthan appointed Opposition Leader". The Nation. 3 September 2015. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  15. ^ "JVP leader's name proposed for Chief Opposition Whip". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 3 September 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-10-27. Retrieved 2015-09-12.
  16. ^ Marasinghe, Sandasen; Range, Irangika; Mudalige, Disna (4 September 2015). "Anura K. tipped to be Chief Opposition Whip". Daily News.[permanent dead link]
  17. ^ "Resolution on Constitutional Assembly passed in Parliament". www.adaderana.lk.
  18. ^ "Hon. Thilanga Sumathipala resigns from the post of Deputy Speaker". Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Sri Lanka: Parliament of Sri Lanka. 30 May 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  19. ^ "Thilanga Sumathipala decides to resign as Deputy Speaker". The Sunday Leader. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Colombo Gazette. 24 May 2018. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  20. ^ Gunasekara, Skandha (6 June 2018). "UNP Ananda Kumarasiri appointed Deputy Speaker". Daily FT. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  21. ^ Mudalige, Disna; Mallawaarachchi, Amali (6 June 2018). "Ananda Kumarasiri elected Deputy Speaker". Daily News. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  22. ^ "MR appointed as Opposition Leader". The Daily Mirror. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  23. ^ Irugalbandara, Ramesh (18 December 2018). "Mahinda Rajapaksa named the Opposition Leader". News First. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  24. ^ Edirisinghe, Dasun (21 August 2015). "SLFP CC for joining national government". The Island. Archived from the original on 11 November 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  25. ^ Bandara, Kelum (20 August 2015). "SLFP agrees to join National Govt". The Daily Mirror.
  26. ^ Liyanawatte, Dinuka (21 August 2015). "Wickremesinghe sworn in as Sri Lankan prime minister". Reuters.
  27. ^ Ramakrishnan, T. (21 August 2015). "Ranil Wickremesinghe sworn in as Sri Lankan Prime Minister". The Hindu.
  28. ^ "UNP and SLFP sign MoU". The Daily Mirror. 21 August 2015.
  29. ^ "SLFP & UNP sign MoU to form National Govt". Sri Lanka Guardian. 21 August 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  30. ^ Hemmathagama, Ashwin (4 September 2015). "Cabinet gets P'ment approval". Daily FT.
  31. ^ Indrajith, Saman (4 September 2015). "Parliament approves expansion of Cabinet from 30 to 48". The Island.
  32. ^ "Three Cabinet Ministers sworn in". The Nation. 24 August 2015. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  33. ^ "Three ministers sworn –in today". Ceylon Today. 24 August 2015. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016.
  34. ^ "New Cabinet". The Daily Mirror. 4 September 2015.
  35. ^ "The new Cabinet". Ceylon Today. 4 September 2015. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015.
  36. ^ "Three more Cabinet ministers appointed". The Daily Mirror. 9 September 2015.
  37. ^ "Another defeated SLFPer appointed cabinet minister". The Island. 10 September 2015.
  38. ^ a b "New State and Deputy Ministers". The Daily Mirror. 9 September 2015.
  39. ^ a b "State and Deputy Ministers take oaths (Updated Full List)". The Nation. 9 September 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-09-10. Retrieved 2015-09-12.
  40. ^ a b "Two more Dy. Ministers sworn in". The Daily Mirror. 10 September 2015.
  41. ^ a b "Two more Deputy Ministers sworn in". The Nation. 10 September 2015. Archived from the original on 11 September 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  42. ^ a b "Dr. Sarath Amunugama sworn in as Minister". Daily News. 24 October 2015.
  43. ^ a b Fernando, Tharushan (23 October 2015). "Dr. Amunugama sworn in as Minister for Special Assignments". News First. Archived from the original on 25 October 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  44. ^ "Sarath Fonseka sworn in as Sri Lanka minister". Arab News. Reuters. 26 February 2016.
  45. ^ "SF Regional Development Minister". The Daily Mirror. 25 February 2016.
  46. ^ "Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka sworn in as Regional Development Minister". Daily News. 26 February 2016.
  47. ^ a b "Two deputy ministers and a state minister appointed". The Daily Mirror. 6 April 2016.
  48. ^ a b Jabbar, Zacki (7 April 2016). "Three more ministers". The Island. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  49. ^ a b "Sri Lanka president's party quits ruling coalition". Gulf News. Dubai, U.A.E. Agence France-Presse. 27 October 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  50. ^ a b "UPFA withdraws from Govt". The Daily Mirror. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  51. ^ "Sri Lanka in political turmoil after prime minister Wickremesinghe sacked". The Guardian. London, U.K. 27 October 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  52. ^ "Sri Lanka plunges into crisis as President Maithripala Sirisena sacks Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe". The Straits Times. Singapore. Agence France-Presse. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  53. ^ "Sri Lanka: Mahinda Rajapaksa, former president, named as PM". BBC News. London, U.K. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  54. ^ "Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena sacks Prime Minister, appoints 'strongman' Mahinda Rajapaksa". ABC News. Sydney, Australia. Associated Press. 27 October 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  55. ^ Srinivasan, Meera (27 October 2018). "Sri Lanka political crisis: President Sirisena prorogues parliament as Wickremesinghe seeks session". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  56. ^ "Sri Lanka president suspends parliament amid political crisis". Al Jazeera. Doha, Qatar. 27 October 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  57. ^ Abi-Habib, Maria; Bastians, Dharisha (26 October 2018). "Sri Lanka Faces Constitutional Crisis as President Unseats Prime Minister". The New York Times. New York, U.S.A. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  58. ^ "Sri Lanka's president sacks PM, sparking constitutional crisis". Special Broadcasting Service. No. 27 October 2018. Sydney, Australia. Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  59. ^ Mallawarachi, Bharatha (29 October 2018). "Sri Lanka's president swears in new Cabinet amid deepening political crisis". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Canada. Associated Press. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  60. ^ Srinivasan, Meera (1 November 2018). "Sri Lanka's new Cabinet expanded". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  61. ^ "New ministers sworn in". News First. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 9 November 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  62. ^ Rasheed, Zaheena; Kuruwita, Rathindra (9 November 2018). "Sri Lanka president dissolves parliament, sets January snap poll". Al Jazeera. Doha, Qatar. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  63. ^ "Sri Lanka's president calls snap election in bid to end power struggle". The Guardian. London, U.K. Agence France-Presse. 10 November 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  64. ^ "Sri Lanka's President Sirisena moves to dissolve parliament". BBC News. London, U.K. 9 November 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  65. ^ Dwyer, Colin (13 November 2018). "Sri Lankan Supreme Court Blocks President's Bid To Dissolve Parliament". NPR. Washington, D.C., U.S.A. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  66. ^ "Sri Lanka Supreme Court overturns dissolution of parliament". Al Jazeera. Doha, Qatar. 13 November 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  67. ^ Chaudhury, Dipanjan Roy (14 November 2018). "Setback for President Sirisena as Lankan Supreme Court stays his order". The Economic Times. Mumbai, India. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  68. ^ Bastians, Dharisha; Gettleman, Jeffrey (14 November 2018). "Another Twist in Sri Lanka: Parliament Votes Rajapaksa Out". The New York Times. New York, U.S.A. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  69. ^ "Sri Lanka thrown into more turmoil as parliament rejects new Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa". ABC News. Sydney, Australia. Associated Press/Reuters. 14 November 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  70. ^ Indrajith, Saman (15 November 2018). "122 MPs who signed no-confidence motion". The Island. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  71. ^ "War of words between President and Speaker escalates". Daily FT. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  72. ^ Bandara, Kelum; Perera, Yohan (16 November 2018). "UPFA rejects NCM". The Daily Mirror. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  73. ^ Kuruwita, Rathindra (16 November 2018). "Chilli paste, books and chairs thrown in Sri Lanka parliament". Al Jazeera. Doha, Qatar. Archived from the original on 17 November 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  74. ^ "Amended no-faith motion against PM and Govt. passed: Speaker". The Daily Mirror. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 16 November 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  75. ^ "Sri Lanka president rejects no-confidence on disputed PM". The New Zealand Herald. Auckland, New Zealand. Associated Press. 17 November 2018. Archived from the original on 17 November 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  76. ^ Aneez, Shihar; Sirilal, Ranga (16 November 2018). "Sri Lanka president rejects Rajapaksa no-confidence vote: lawmaker". Reuters. London, U.K. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  77. ^ Srinivasan, Meera (3 December 2018). "Sri Lanka's Court of Appeal restrains Mahinda Rajapaksa from functioning as PM". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  78. ^ "Sri Lanka Court Bars Rajapaksa From Office, Disputed PM to Appeal". The New York Times. New York, U.S.A. Reuters. 3 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  79. ^ "The Court of Appeal decision: Petition against appointment of PM and ministers". The Island. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  80. ^ Srinivasan, Meera (12 December 2018). "Ranil Wickremesinghe wins confidence vote". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  81. ^ Indrajith, Saman (13 December 2018). "TNA throws its weight behind Ranil". The Island. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  82. ^ "Sri Lanka parliament sacking 'illegal'". BBC News. London, U.K. 13 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  83. ^ Sengupta, Ramananda (14 December 2018). "Dissolution of Parliament unconstitutional: Sri Lanka's SC". The New Indian Express. Chennai, India. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  84. ^ "SC. FR Application No. 351/2018" (PDF). Colombo, Sri Lanka: Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. 13 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  85. ^ Silva, Shehan Chamika (14 December 2018). "SC refuses to vacate CA's interim order against MR". The Daily Mirror. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  86. ^ Fernando, Lethonkie (14 December 2018). "Supreme Court refuses to dismiss court of appeal injunction against MR". News First. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  87. ^ "Rajapaksa: Sri Lanka's disputed PM resigns amid crisis". BBC News. London, U.K. 15 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  88. ^ Kuruwita, Rathindra; Rasheed, Zaheena (15 December 2018). "Sri Lanka's disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigns". Al Jazeera. Doha, Qatar. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  89. ^ Safi, Michael; Perera, Amantha (16 December 2018). "Sri Lanka: ousted prime minister Wickremesinghe reinstalled". The Guardian. London, U.K. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
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