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Agence France-Presse

Sri Lanka’s main parties on Monday challenged in the highest court the president’s sacking of parliament, a move which has escalated a political crisis and deepened international alarm.
President Maithripala Sirisena late on Friday called snap elections for January 5 and dismissed parliament, two weeks after sacking the prime minister and installing the divisive Mahinda Rajapakse in his place.
Three parties, which together enjoy an absolute majority in the assembly, on Monday asked the Supreme Court to declare the president’s actions as illegal.
Sacked premier Ranil Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP), the main opposition Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the leftist JVP, or People’s Liberation Front, were among 10 groups that filed the action, officials said.
“The petitions were accepted this morning and it is up to the Chief Justice to decide when it will be taken up for hearing,” a court official said.
Sri Lanka crisis: President Maithripala Sirisena sacks entire parliament in midnight manoeuvre

He said several civil society groups and individuals too had submitted separate petitions, all seeking a declaration against the presidential action against the legislature.
On Sunday, the speaker of parliament, Karu Jayasuriya, urged civil servants to defy Sirisena’s “illegal orders”.
“I have watched over the last two weeks as the executive branch has seized the rights and usurped the powers of members of parliament who were elected to represent the people,” he said.
“We must all act with patriotism and independence to safeguard the future of democracy in our country.”

The same day, Sirisena said violent clashes among rival parliamentary members could have led to “civil unrest” across the country if the legislature had met as scheduled this week.
“Had I allowed the parliament to meet on November 14, there would have been violence in the House and it could have spread to our villagers and towns,” Sirisena said in his first address to the nation since the crisis erupted on Friday.
“I acted to prevent civil unrest.”
Sirisena’s rivals maintain that he had no constitutional power to sack the assembly until it completed four-and-a-half years of its five-year term that ends in August 2020.

Sri Lanka’s ousted prime minister Wickremesinghe is readying for polls, according to his party.
“We are prepared to go for an election, but this is illegal,” said Harsha De Silva, who was state minister of economic affairs under Wickremesinghe’s government. “There will be a massive backing of citizens that believe in democracy and rule of law.”
Thousands of Sri Lankans take to streets in support of new government led by former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa
Only China has recognised the appointment of Rajapakse, who during his decade as president relied heavily on Beijing for both diplomatic and financial support as the West shunned him over his human rights record.
Political rally in support of deposed Sri Lankan premier brings chaos to capital’s streets
The United States has led a chorus of international voices expressing concern over threats to democracy on the island of 21 million people strategically located in the Indian Ocean.
Election monitors have questioned the legality of the snap poll announced by Srisena.
The People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections said it had already asked the independent Elections Commission to seek an opinion from the attorney general and an order from the Supreme Court.
Additional reporting by Bloomberg


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Sri Lanka

‘We’re ready for polls’: Sri Lanka opposition parties challenge president in court after sacking of parliament

Sri Lanka's ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe arrives at a news conference in Colombo. His party has said it is ready for elections after the president dissolved parliament on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Sri Lanka's former Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera (C) and supporters of ousted Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe hold candles during a protest in Colombo on November 11, 2018. - Sri Lanka's parliamentary Speaker on November 11 accused President Maithripala Sirisena of "usurping" the rights of legislators and asked public servants not to carry out his "illegal orders". (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA / AFP)

Sri Lanka's former president Mahinda Rajapakse looks on at the official residence in Colombo on November 11, 2018. - Sri Lanka's former strongman leader Mahinda Rajapakse on November 11 vowed snap elections would go ahead to "seek a mandate from the people" after the president's sacking of parliament plunged the country deeper into political turmoil. (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA / AFP)

FILE - In this Nov. 5, 2018, file photo, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, center, waves to supporters during a rally outside the parliamentary complex in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sirisena on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018 dissolved Parliament and called for fresh elections amid a deepening political crisis. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena, File)

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The 225-seat parliament was dissolved at midnight Friday with a vote scheduled for January 5
President Maithripala Sirisen unexpectedly fired Wickremesinghe and tried to install former strongman president Mahinda Rajapaksa


Political crisis continues to grip the island nation after President Maithripala Sirisen dissolved the 225-seat parliament at midnight on Friday, with a vote scheduled for January 5


‘We’re ready for polls’: Sri Lanka opposition parties challenge president in court after sacking of parliament

The 225-seat parliament was dissolved at midnight Friday with a vote scheduled for January 5 President Maithripala Sirisen unexpectedly fired Wickremesinghe and tried to install former strongman president Mahinda Rajapaksa

The 225-seat parliament was dissolved at midnight Friday with a vote scheduled for January 5

President Maithripala Sirisen unexpectedly fired Wickremesinghe and tried to install former strongman president Mahinda Rajapaksa