Sri Lanka crisis could turn into bloodbath: Parliament chief

Sri Lanka’s parliament speaker has warned that the political crisis unfolding in the country could turn into a “bloodbath” on the streets unless the parliament is empowered to intervene and resolve the standoff between the president and the sacked premier.

“We should settle this through parliament, but if we take it out to the streets, there will be a huge bloodbath,” the legislative chamber’s speaker, Karu Jayasuriya, said on Monday.

Last week, President Maithripala Sirisena abruptly ousted the cabinet, suspended the parliament and appointed the man he had ousted from the presidency, Mahinda Rajapaksa, as the new premier, replacing Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Rajapaksa is a controversial Buddhist nationalist, who is said to be the most popular politician in the country. He is the same man against whom Sirisena and Wickremasingh formed a surprise coalition in 2015 presidential elections.

Howeve, Wickramasinghe views his ouster as illegal, seeking a chance to prove in parliament that he still commands a majority.

Jayasuriya further said he had urged President Sirisena to let the sacked prime minister prove his majority on the floor of the House.

Sri Lanka suffers power vacuum: sacked PM

In the meantime, Wickremasinghe demanded that the parliament be allowed to end the standoff.

“At the moment there is a vacuum, no one is in full charge of the country,” Wickremesinghe told reporters at his official residence. “That is why we want parliament summoned immediately to decide who enjoys the majority. I am still the prime minister who commands that majority.”

While he remained defiant at his official residence, his security guards were seen leaving the residence early Monday morning, Reuters reported.

The newly appointed prime minister said earlier that he will hold local council elections as well as general elections “as soon as possible.”

The parliamentary elections are not due until August 2020.

Several legislators loyal to the ousted prime minster have warned of street violence if the parliament is not summoned.

SS