Sri Lanka's proposed replacement of 19th Amendment faces resistance within ruling party

PM Rajapaksa will be the hardest-hit by the amendment, while his brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa will gain full legal immunity as President

All in the family: Sri Lanka's political Rajapaksa dynasty

The powerful clan has held sway over the island nation's politics for decades, as well as having a major influence in key state institutions

Addressing members of his United National Front, Sirisena reiterated he does not like Wickremesinghe, despite having to reappoint him as PM

The decision was the latest dramatic twist in the crisis that has gripped Sri Lanka since Sirisena sacked PM Wickremesinghe.

Tamils say some of the prisoners have been held over a long time under an anti-terrorism law without even being formally charged.

It came as a major relief to the embattled UNP leader, who was sacked last week by President Maithripala Sirisena.