Sri Lanka: President Sirisena dissolves parliament November 9 /update 8

Event

On Friday, November 9, President Maithripala Sirisena dissolved the country's parliament following reports that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party was failing to secure the majority needed to nominate Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister during parliament session initially scheduled to take place on Wednesday, November 14. Further protests are expected to be held in the capital Colombo and throughout the rest of the country in the near term. Daily gatherings are expected to continue at the Liberty Roundabout in the capital from 16:30 to 18:30 (local time). In addition, a mass rally organized by the United National Party (UNP) is slated to take place in Colombo on Monday, November 12, to denounce the ongoing political crisis. Heightened security measures and localized traffic disruptions are anticipated around all demonstrations and gatherings. Clashes between demonstrators and security forces cannot be ruled out.

Context

The political crisis was prompted by the dismissal of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his cabinet after President Maithripala Sirisena's party left the majority coalition on October 26. The move, viewed by the opposition as unconstitutional, resulted in the suspension, and later, dissolution of the parliament. President Sirisena immediately appointed former president Mahinda Rajapaksa as interim prime minister, a move that Wickremesinghe declared illegal..

Advice

Individuals present in Sri Lanka, particularly in Colombo, are advised to keep abreast of the domestic political climate, adhere to instructions issued by local authorities and their home governments, refrain from discussing political subjects in public, and to avoid all protests due to the risk of violence.