Sri Lanka President Dissolves Parliament, Calls for Election
- Vote set for Jan. 5 after Sirisena replaces prime minister
- Lawmakers want vote on the firing, saying it violates the law
This article is for subscribers only.
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena dissolved the island nation’s parliament and called for a snap general election amid mounting pressure to prove a majority of lawmakers support his newly appointed prime minister.
The 225-seat parliament was dissolved at midnight Friday and a new one will meet Jan. 17 after a vote Jan. 5, according to a presidential announcement. The speaker of Sri Lanka’s parliament, Karu Jayasuriya, last week warned the country could descend into political violence if the legislature remained suspended.