#CoupLK

Image: Samantha Power speaking at the event to mark 30 years of Parliamentary Politics of Minister Mangala Samaraweera. (@MangalaLK) Full text of the speech delivered by Ambassador Samantha J Power at the event to mark 30 years of Parliamentary Politics of Minister Mangala Samaraweera. Ambassador Samantha Power. Celebration of Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference […]

Mahinda Rajapaksa speaks to the media on November 11, 2018 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Paula Bronstein / Getty. “In the name of God, go!” Rarely have these words of Oliver Cromwell been recycled with such farce and frequency as during Sri Lanka’s recent political crisis, not least by parliamentarians addressing rivals. As far as crises […]

“If voting made any difference they wouldn’t let us do it.” ~ Mark Twain On January 8, 2015, the people of this country unreservedly placed their hopes and aspirations on line. Their expression in the exercise of their fundamental right to vote couldn’t have been clearer. They elected a new government. They rejected the Rajapaksa-led […]

Image: A dock worker is seen on top of shipping containers in a ship at the main port in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 21 June 2018 (Photo: Reuters/Dinuka Liyanawatte). 28 January 2019.  Dushni Weerakoon, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka plunged into a political crisis in October 2018 when President Maithripala Sirisena suddenly and unexpectedly […]

The year that is coming to a close was one of political uncertainty and economic instability. The economy, which was showing some signs of recovery with exports growing at a rapid pace, tourism booming and prospects of increased foreign investment, was transformed into an unstable one. Political crisis The political and constitutional crisis compounded the […]

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has made an initial announcement in parliament that the new Leader of the Opposition would be former president Mahinda Rajapaksa of the SLFP/UPFA.  However, this has been challenged by the TNA whose leader R Sampanthan previously held the position and who has not been removed from this position.  This has led to […]

Image: Left groups wants Sirisena to be prosecuted for political coup he staged. (c)S.Deshapriya.. As a year of political upheaval and economic stagnation is winding down, Sri Lanka is entering into an uncertain 2019. Politics is as toxic as it has ever been in recent times. The illwill between President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister […]

Image: Jaliya W. and Mahinda Rajapaksa. Political Correspondent/ ECONOMYNEXT . Dec 24, 2018 , Sri Lanka’s October coup that brought former president Mahinda Rajapaksa briefly back to power may have backfired on a close relative, ex-ambassador to Washington and fugitive from justice, Jaliya Wickramasuriya. The prospect of a Rajapaksa government in Colombo prompted justice authorities […]

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) – Members of Sri Lanka’s Parliament on Tuesday questioned whether Mahinda Rajapaksa, who recently quit as prime minister, can hold his seat after earlier relinquishing membership in the political party he represented in the last election. Lakshman Kiriella, a lawmaker from the ruling United National Front coalition, raised the question in […]

Image: 24 day peaceful protest against Sirisena’s constitutional coup came to an end with the news of Rajapaksa’s resignation.(c)S.Deshapriya. But Sri Lanka’s biggest worry is a fresh eruption of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe power struggle. New space has emerged for de-escalating Sri Lanka’s political crisis with the timely and judicious intervention by the Sri Lankan Supreme Court. […]

Image: Sacked Ranil Wickremesinghe was reinstated as Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister ending 51-day political crisis.   | Photo Credit: Reuters. Meera Srinivasan . Mr. Wickremesinghe was sworn in by President Maithripala Sirisena, who sacked him on October 26. President Maithripala Sirisena on Sunday reinstated Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, seven weeks after firing him in a snap move. […]

Image: The court took exception to the Attorney General claiming that the president had “plenary executive power — a royal prerogative power which is subject to no restriction.” ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court shooting down President Maithripala Sirisena’s premature sacking of parliament will have far reaching consequences for him as well as future leaders, according […]

Image: Civil society groups and activists hold placards during a protest demanding that democracy be restored in the country as they gather at the Independence Square in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Nov. 19, 2018. | Photo Credit: AP. Meera Srinivasan DECEMBER 15, 2018 . Civil society groups and activists hold placards during a protest demanding […]

Sri Lanka media organisations so far failed to defend the freedom of expression rights of three prominent rights activists who are being investigated by the police for speaking up against the constitutional coup staged by president Sirisena on 26th October 2018. The coup has now been defeated by the majority vote in the parliament, two […]

Image: A UNP member of the Dehiowita Pradeshiya Sabha Sujith Chandana  was caught on tape assaulting. Media Release /2018 December 15. The Free Media Movement vehemently condemns the behavior of the group gathered in front of Lake House and considers this behavior as a threaten to the media Institution. The Free Media Movement also calls for […]

Image: Sinhala language news paper headline few weeks ago: I will not stay as president even a hour if Ranil W. becomes the PM again. Now Ranil W. will be swearing in  as PM  on 10 am Sunday the 16th. AFP – Sri Lanka’s strongman leader Mahinda Rajapakse will step down on Saturday from his […]

Image: A protester at the on Sathyagrahaya against the dissolution preparing fire crackers just before the SC decision on 13 Dec 18. (c) S.Deshapriya. Meera Srinivasan COLOMBO, DECEMBER 13. For over a month now, the country has been left without a legitimate government or cabinet. In a landmark case of the Sri Lankan judiciary ruling […]

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s United National Front expects appoint Ranil Wickremesinghe to be re-appointed Prime Minister while their opponents said a decision will be taken tonight after the Supreme Court reversed a sacking of parliament by President Maithripala Sirisena. “Sri Lanka has a strong democratic traditions, illegitimate acts by the executive or or parliament cannot […]

Mahinda Rajapaksa issued two press releases on the 3rd of December. One in Sinhala, the other in English. The press release was in response to the interim stay order issued by the Court of Appeal, basically putting Rajapaksa out of the job he was unconstitutionally appointed into and hasn’t to date demonstrated any capacity to retain, […]

The President appears to believe that he still possesses the full executive powers he derived from the Constitution when he was elected to his office in January 2015. Three months later, he sat during a tumultuous session in Parliament and witnessed the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, introduced by the Government of […]

Cartoon:  Courtesy of The Morning. President Maithripala Sirisena’s implied criticism of the Sri Lankan judiciary when speaking at the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) convention this Tuesday, referencing himself as the Mahanayake (seniormost prelate) of a Nikaya (chapter) being educated by the head monk of a village temple invokes strong and unequivocal condemnation in no […]

  Image: Sculpture of a Sri Lanka parliament made of  ice , let to melt as a protest to Sirisena’ s constitutional coup. ( Tweeter photo) President Sirisena is playing a desperate game of bluff and brinkmanship. He is bluffing when he gives deadlines to resolve the current state of legal non-government and the standoff […]

Image: In the event of the President’s unwillingness to abide by the norms of democratic practice, the government will face both domestic and international opprobrium. The political crisis that commenced with President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to dismiss Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe continues.  The sticking point at present is that the President is repeatedly stating both […]

The European Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (ECCSL), the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) and the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) said yesterday they were gravely concerned about the present political uncertainty and upheaval in the country. Issuing a statement, they said,” We are of the view […]

Image: US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Alaina Teplitz . New Ambassador says global trust, confidence and reputation of SL at stake with political impasse causing serious socio-economic consequences. Points to bigger challenge of how to deal with the aftermath of this crisis. Admits crisis has impacted bilateral opportunities; finalising Millennium Challenge Corporation’s $ 500 m grant […]

Image: A civil society initiative, Rise Up has mobilized citizens against the #CoupLK. Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena was hailed as Sri Lanka’s Mandela by his supporters in January 2015. He is now being called Sri Lanka’s Mugabe after his recent actions plunged the country into a chaotic constitutional crisis of unprecedented gravity. On Friday […]

At the very moment the political conspiracy was committed with the mediation of President Maithripala Sirisena, the JVP resolved that the political conspiracy would be defeated and all moves that would be taken to consolidate democracy in the country. When Parliament met on 14th November the JVP presented a no-confidence motion against the illegal, unconstitutional […]

In the case at hand before this Court, the 122 Petitioner members of the 225 member Parliament state that a no-confidence motion was passed by a majority in the said Parliament. The Petitioners allege that the Respondents have usurped the public office namely the respective positions in the office of Prime Minister, Cabinet of Ministers […]

3RD DECEMBER 2018. Lawyers for Democracy Response to Mahinda Rajapakse’s Misleading Statement made in the wake of the Supreme Court case. Lawyers for Democracy expresses its serious concern on the attempt by Mahinda Rajapakse, MP for Kurunegala District, to mislead the country by issuing an unusual statement on the matter of the dissolution of Parliament, […]

Dec 03, 2018 . AFP – A court in Sri Lanka suspended Mahinda Rajapakse’s powers as prime minister on Monday and ruled his disputed cabinet could not govern the strife-torn island until it proved its legitimacy. The decision casts further legal doubt over Rajapakse’s claim to lead Sri Lanka, which has been in turmoil since […]