Several MPs supporting ousted PM Ranil Wickremsinghe criticize conduct of President Maithripala Sirisena

In Sri Lanka, several MPs supporting ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremsinghe today criticized the conduct of President Maithripala Sirisena in Parliament while MPs supporting Mahinda Rajapaksa boycotted the session for the fifth consecutive day.

The MPs speaking during the session termed the President proclamations of parliament dissolution and appointment of Mr. Rajapaksa as illegal. They pointed out that it is the first time in Sri Lankan history that the country is without a Prime Minister or cabinet.

They also asserted that state media is being wrongly influenced and the tourism industry is in disarray. It may be mentioned that a court of appeal on Monday restrained Mr. Rajapaksa and his cabinet from functioning and the order has been challenged in Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, country’s Attorney General today stated that the Supreme Court does not have the legal authority to hear the petitions against the dissolution of the Parliament. He said it during heating of petitions filed against the dissolution which the court is hearing for second consecutive day.

The Attorney General said that if the President violated the Constitution of the country, his actions can be challenged only at the Parliament.