Sri Lanka calls snap elections on Jan 05
Friday November 9, 2018
23:57
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena has called snap general elections on January 05, after issuing a notice dissolving parliament in an ongoing political crisis in the country.
Nominations will be called from January 19 to 26, the notice said.
A new parliament will meet on January 17, the notice said.
President Sirisena, appointed ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in a surprise move sacking incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe who insisted that he cannot be legally removed.
Under a specific amendment to Sri Lanka’s constitution, the Preisdent cannot dissolve parlaiment until four and a half years after it is elected and the decision is likely to be challenged in court. (Colombo/Nov09/2018)