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Sri Lanka's disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has reportedly resigned from his post. (Photo: AP)

Mahinda Rajapaksa resigns as Sri Lanka's Prime Minister

Mahinda Rajapaksa signed what was called a 'resignation' letter at his residence in capital Colombo.

15 Dec 2018 11:56 AM

Mahinda Rajapaksa was appointed as the premier on October 26 by President Maithripala Sirisena after sacking Ranil Wickremesinghe, plunging the nation into a constitutional crisis. (Photo: File | AP)

Sri Lanka PM Mahinda Rajapaksa to step down tomorrow

The stepping down of Rajapaksa signals an end to a turbulent seven-week long struggle for power in the island nation.

14 Dec 2018 7:48 PM

A majority of legislators asked the court last week to intervene, saying Rajapakse remained in office despite parliament passing motions against him. (Photo: File)

Sri Lanka court suspends Mahinda Rajapakse's powers as PM

'Irreparable damage' could be done to Sri Lanka if Mahinda Rajapakse was allowed to remain as head of government, the court said.

03 Dec 2018 5:00 PM

The country has been in a crisis since President Sirisena replaced Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe with Mahinda Rajapaksa last month, and then issued an order dissolving parliament and called for a general election. (Photo: AP | File)

Looking for 'dignified exit', Lanka Prez may not dissolve Parliament

Sirisena might rescind order of dissolving Parl, effectively pre-empting a court ruling that they expect to overturn his decision anyway.

01 Dec 2018 1:14 PM

Friday’s motion, which passed 122 to none in the 225-member parliament, follows a similar vote on Thursday to cut the budget to the Prime Minister’s office. (Photo: File | PTI)

Sri Lanka: Parliament votes to halt payment of ministers’ salaries, expenses

Rajapaksa loyalists declared the vote illegal and called into question the impartiality of the speaker.

30 Nov 2018 2:09 PM

The Speaker named five members from United National Front (UNF) of Wickeremesinghe, and one each from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). (Photo: File | AP)

Sri Lanka: Ousted PM Wickeremesinghe wins control of key panel in Parliament

Sirisena's party members walked out of Parliament, protesting against Speaker Karu Jayasuriya's move to appoint five members of UPFA.

23 Nov 2018 4:35 PM

The crisis talks came after Sri Lanka's parliament witnessed unprecedented violence as lawmakers threw furniture and chilli powder at each other. (Photo: File)

Sri Lanka: Sirisena's all-party crisis talks fail to end political stalemate

JVP boycotted the meeting and wrote to Sirisena stating he should end the crisis as he created it. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya also stayed away.

19 Nov 2018 10:21 AM

Lawmakers supporting disputed Prime Minister Rajapksa throw a chair towards police officers escorting the speaker inside parliament in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, November 16, 2018. (Photo: AP)

Sri Lankan Parliament adjourned after leaders throw chilli powder, furniture

Brawl occurred day after Speaker announced there is no PM or government following no-confidence motion against disputed PM Rajapaksa.

16 Nov 2018 8:23 PM

Sri Lankan govt confusion after House no-trust in Mahinda Rajapaksa

The Speaker’s office said that the Speaker has requested the President to take the next step under the Constitution.

15 Nov 2018 2:29 AM

Sri Lanka's parliament passed a motion of no-confidence in the controversially appointed government of Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday. (Photo: File | AP)

Sri Lankan parl votes against newly-appointed Rajapaksa govt

Speaker ruled that majority of 225-member assembly supported no-confidence motion against Rajapaksa who was made PM on Oct 26.

14 Nov 2018 11:23 AM

The top court ordered a halt to preparations for snap elections. (Photo: File)

Sri Lanka Supreme Court overturns sacking of Parliament by Prez Sirisena

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

13 Nov 2018 6:33 PM

Sirisena dissolved Parliament on November 9 and announced snap polls on January 5 next year after it became evident that he did not have enough support in the House. (Photo: File)

Key Lankan parties, EC member move Supreme Court against President Sirisena

Sirisena on Sunday stoutly defended his move to dissolve Parliament, saying it was taken to prevent clashes among rival lawmakers.

12 Nov 2018 3:36 PM

The SLPP was formed last year by Rajapaksa's supporters to create a platform for his re-entry into politics. The party in February's local council election won two-third of the total 340 seats. (Photo: File)

Rajapaksa ends 50-yr association with Sirisena's party, joins newly-formed SLPP

Rajapaksa's move signaled that he would contest snap polls, to be held on Jan 5, under his own party banner and not that of SLFP.

11 Nov 2018 6:57 PM

Sri Lanka's Parliament stands dissolved some 21 months ahead of its schedule in August 2020, amid a worsening Constitutional crisis triggered by the surprise sacking of Wickremesinghe. (Photo: File)

Sri Lanka crisis: Wickremesinghe's party to fight parliament dissolution in court

Sirisena had called for January polls after it was clear Rajapaksa wouldn't command majority in legislature.

10 Nov 2018 7:31 PM

Sirisena signed a decree dismissing the 225-member assembly and scheduled parliamentary elections for January 5, nearly two years ahead of schedule. In a bid to head off any revolt against his action he also suspended parliament. (Photo: File)

Sri Lanka crisis: President Sirisena dissolves parliament, calls for snap polls

Sirisena called for January polls after it was clear Rajapaksa wouldn't command majority in legislature, a move opponents called illegal.

10 Nov 2018 1:20 PM

Sri Lankan Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said he wanted a floor test in parliament to resolve the issue of two prime ministers in the country which arose following the sacking of Ranil Wickremesinghe and replacing him with Mahinda Rajapaksa. (Photo: File | AP)

Sri Lankan Speaker Jayasuriya presses for floor test to resolve political crisis

His remarks come soon after he slammed President Sirisena, saying it was 'anti-democratic' to sack PM Wickremesinghe and suspend Parliament.

08 Nov 2018 11:52 AM

India had been pushing Sri Lanka for the award of an estimated $1 billion contract for a second foreign-operated container terminal in Colombo. (File | ANI)

Behind Sri Lanka's turmoil, a China-India struggle for investments and influence

India can ill afford to ignore the strategic advantage China has gained in Sri Lanka so close to peninsular India.

08 Nov 2018 10:49 AM

Jayasuriya says majority of parliamentarians view the change in PM as unconstitutional and in a letter to diplomats and foreign missions, said some of them were offered bribes and ministerial jobs to support the new government. (Photo: File)

Sri Lanka has suffered 'coup without guns', says Speaker Karu Jayasuriya

The entire matter was pre-planned and the events can only be described as a coup, albeit one without the use of tanks and guns, he said.

07 Nov 2018 1:26 PM

Thousands of loyalists from across the country are camped out at the Temple Trees residence in Colombo, a colonial-era bungalow where Ranil Wickremesinghe has been holed up since his shock dismissal more than a week ago. (Photo: AFP)

Ousted Sri Lankan PM's official home becomes symbol of power struggle

Sirisena sacked Wickremesinghe on October 26 but he has refused to accept the decision or to leave the residence.

04 Nov 2018 2:27 PM

So far, Rajapaksa has 100 MPs on his side while sacked prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has 103 MPs in the 225-member assembly. (Photo: File| AP)

Tamil prisoners may be released to tilt scales in favour of Lanka PM Rajapaksa

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

04 Nov 2018 1:00 PM

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Sunil Gatade