Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena dissolves parliament, elections could be held in August

NEW DELHI: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena Friday dissolved parliament, paving the way for an election which is expected mid August.
"The president signed a gazette notification dissolving parliament with effect from midnight today," government spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said. Government sources said from Colombo that Parliamentary polls will be held on August 17. Sirisena was earlier planning to dissolve Parliament after passing 20th Amendment to the Constitution that is aimed at electoral reforms.

Sirisena defeated incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa in presidential elections held in January and presided over a government that was run by erstwhile Opposition UNP.

The president's decision to dissolve parliament came shortly after a spokesman for the United National Party (UNP) said it had formally requested him to do so. Sources said from Colombo that Rajapaksa faction in Sirisena to declare him a PM candidate for Sri Lanka Freedom Party. Both Sirisena and UNP was opposed to the idea. It is understood this move dissolve Parliament was aimed at denying Rajapaksa chance to claim nomination for premiership.

The UNP was the main party behind Sirisena's shot at Presidency and its leader, Ranil Wickremesingha, is the country's prime minister. Anti-Rajapaksa faction supported Sirisena at the elections.

Sri Lankan law says that elections be held between 52 and 66 days after the dissolution. BBC Colombo also reported that elections could be held on August 17.

Sri Lankan election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya will announce the dates for the polls tomorrow.

The dissolution of parliament ends the term of the coalition government that was appointed for a 100-day period after the presidential election result last January. Sirisena reached out to the Tamil minorities during this period as well as launched anti-corruption move against members of Rajapaksa regime. The Chinese infrastructure projects facilitated by the previous regime has also come to a standstill since January.