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WORLD NEWS Friday 23 November 2018

2 premiers and no government: Crisis confuses Sri Lankans

By KRISHAN FRANCIS by the president can't be
Associated Press called legal because Siris-
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) ena had not sought a par-
— Two men each claim to liamentary vote when he
be the prime minister. Law- dismissed Wickremesinghe.
makers are exchanging "It can be called illegitimate
blows in Parliament. because provisions for a
A former finance minister confidence vote in Parlia-
says the country is on the ment are being blocked by
brink of an "economic an- the president's own party
archy." through their riotous behav-
Welcome to Sri Lanka, ior," Perera said, referring to
where the political crisis is a brawl last week that was
getting worse by the week. followed by another pan-
The trouble started when demonium in the chamber
President Maithripala Siris- when Rajapaksa loyalists
ena, fed up with disagree- refused to let the speaker
ments with his prime minis- conduct proceedings.
ter over money, an alleged Wickremesinghe says his
conspiracy plot and un- dismissal is invalid because
resolved issues of wartime he still holds a majority in
crimes against civilians, the 225-member Parlia-
fired Ranil Wickremesinghe ment.
and his Cabinet and re- The dismissal is also dis-
placed them with a gov- In this Oct. 26, 2018 file photo, newly appointed Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, puted because of a lat-
center, sits to talk with supporters at a Buddhist temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
ernment headed by a Associated Press est constitutional change,
popular former strongman, which lawyers say has
Mahinda Rajapaksa. fidence motion. Sirisena, minister has been defeat- local analyst group Nation- taken away presidential
But lawmakers balked and however, refuses to accept ed. al Peace Council, said that powers to dismiss the prime
twice passed a no-con- that his choice of prime Jehan Perera, head of the the government appointed minister.q