Sri Lanka President Suspends Parliament After Replacing the Prime Minister

Former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse, left, is sworn is as prime minister by President Maithripala Sirisena in Colombo, after incumbent premier Ranil Wickremesinghe was sacked. PHOTO AFP

ABC News Online: Sri Lanka political crisis deepens with parliament suspended after prime minister sacked

A constitutional crisis in Sri Lanka has deepened as President Maithripala Sirisena temporarily suspended Parliament a day after sacking the prime minister and replacing him with a former leader seen as being close to China.

Mr Sirisena fired prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and swore in former president Mahinda Rajapaksa as his replacement late on Friday in a move cheered by Mr Rajapaksa's supporters but described as a coup by opponents.

Under Sri Lanka's constitution, the president has executive powers while the prime minister heads parliament.

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Sri Lanka: Mahinda Rajapaksa, former president, named as PM -- BBC
Sri Lankan president suspends Parliament after sacking PM -- UPI
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