Sri Lanka’s Disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa Resigns

Colombo: Sri Lanka’s disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned from his post on Saturday, signalling an end to nearly a two-month-long political crisis that has kept the island nation without a functional government. The 73-year-old former strongman signed his resignation letter in the presence of his party members at his official residence in the capital, television footage showed.

Rajapaksa’s resignation came after the country’s Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay a lower court order barring him and his Cabinet from functioning. The Parliament had already passed two no-trust motions against him. “The change of government that the people expected has now had to be put off. But the people will definitely get the change they desire. No one can prevent that,” Rajapaksa said in a statement cited by Efe news. According to Rajapaksa, he was bowing out to allow President Maithripala Sirisena to “form a new government”.

“The main challenge facing us in the interval between now and the formation of a people’s government will be to minimize the damage that can be done by the destructive forces that are now seeking restoration to their former positions,” Rajapaksa said, referring to the comeback of Wickremesinghe on the post. The Sri Lankan Parliament had earlier this week passed a vote of confidence in Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister. His party and its allies have a majority in Parliament. The crisis had provoked protests in the country and brawls in Parliament, with legislators clashing on the chamber floor — throwing chairs, books, and chilli paste — over who should remain the country’s Prime Minister. (IANS)

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