President Maithripala Sirisena has triggered a constitutional crisis by appointing former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new Prime Minister.
According to the 19th Amendment to the constitution, the President does not have powers to remove the Prime Minister, although he has powers to appoint one.
Therefore, there is a viewpoint that President Sirisena has appointed Rajapaksa as the new Prime Minister, without legally removing Ranil Wickremesinghe from his position.
According to the 19th Amendment to the constitution, a Prime Minister cannot be removed in the Nineteenth Amendment, unless a) he resigns from office, or b) ceases to be a Member of Parliament. The dissolution of Parliament can also result in the resignation of the incumbent Prime Minister.
Making a strong statement, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told a short while ago that he was still the Prime Minister and the appointment of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was “unconstitutional”.
Wickremesinghe also added that he would retain the post of the Prime Minister as would not step down from office.
He made this statement after consulting senior Parliamentarians of the UNP and his legal advisors, shortly after the surprise swearing-in of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Commenting on the development, Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera said, “The appointment of @PresRajapaksa as the Prime Minister is unconstitutional & illegal. This is an anti-democratic coup.”
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Video: Mahinda Rajapaksa Sworn In As Sri Lanka’s New Prime Minister
His Masters Voices / October 26, 2018
Lingam it seems the fireworks ? just begun, more Constitution changes in the pipeline.
First the parliament will be taken over, then referendum for execution
PM(Pm, for life ?)
And what police and land powers kiss them goodbye forever.
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JD / October 26, 2018
Maithripala Sirisena was selected by CBK/Ranil and Mangala as a pawn because they knew they could nopt do it and people would not trust them. If Maithripala Wants to be elected he needs to do some drastic actions. Otherwise, it iwll be a Tsunami against him. Ranil Was appointed first time unconstitutionally. then Ranil as silent. In the real world, Ranil should be jail becuse of what he did inthe bond scam. Even Africa is far more low abiding than Sri lanka. Ranil is PM but he thinks he is the allpwerful EXECUTIVE who can do anything and neglect it. Longer Maithripala goes with Ranil Maithripala is proving why he is not suitable to be a president anymore.
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JD / October 26, 2018
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Real Revolutionist / October 27, 2018
The problem is the 19th amendment that grabbed/reduced president’s power in a DECEPTIVE way by a government with a weak/partial mandate.
UNP won 105 seats & the supporting partner provided the balance.
Supportive partner has left now, so the govt. was minority now even though it could gain support from racially based minority parties, that’s not comfortable for the smooth functioning of the country.
Country’s constitutional head is the president & the appointee PM’s attempt to overshadow him is the root cause for the situation.
President’s decision is supported by another fact that the recent defeat in the LG election which clearly demonstrate where the govt. was from popularity point of view.
President has a responsibility to take the country for a forced parliamentary election & decide where the mandate is.
RW should understand now that deceptive 19th amendment has boomeranged now & argument that he’s still the PM is null & void.
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Thanga / October 27, 2018
Champa is a Sinhalese supremacist who does not care about the constitution. The Consitution is clear the President cannot remove the Prime Minister from office. That power is not there.
Sirisena has not only made an ass of himself, but he has also become an object of ridicule and contempt in the eyes of the discerning public. Sirisena has proved that not everybody can rule the country. A Head of State must have education, wisdom, righteousness, ability take decisions for the good of the people and country. Sirisena by his rash act has thrown the country into a constitutional crisis. This is at a time when Sri Lanka is reeling under an impending economic disaster.
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JD / October 27, 2018
Ranil says He will come again to be the longest living Prime minister and he will pass away when he is 84 years and on a wheel chair inside the parliament. Phillip Gunawardane wanted that too.
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vis8 / October 27, 2018
Want to be PM??? Have elections and see if you can. 62 million have realized their mistake . The joy of the people on display today is just a glimpse of this. Stay away and save your face (AND THE COUNTRY!)
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Namal Perera / October 27, 2018
All should support the President for the removal of the Prime minister, the most unpopular and untrustworthy Politician who is responsible for the current situation in the Country. However no one can approve the appointment of the biggest Political crook in the place. Citizens cannot forget how he turned Democratic Sri Lanka to a corrupt Lawless Banana Republic with Jungle Law and family rule and Terrorized the entire Nation. A President who served both terms and ammended the Constitution to stay in power for ever and when got kicked out, why he disgraced the Presidency and shamelessly entered the Parliament as a back bench MP should be investigated. Did he do it because he love the Country so much or to escape from punishment for the atrocities committed during the former Regime?
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JD / October 27, 2018
NOw PALHORU group 32 aka JAckal Opposition and SLFP conmen aka Palhory #1 got together. What is next. UNP ministers were like MOLE Rats. They were very busy getting Commis, donations, getting approved humongous foreign and State bank loans. So, all those will be forgiven. I heard one minister had to give large sum for his RS 3.5 billion loan. check and see, elections are nearby. Most UNP ministers get bank loans from foreign banks.
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Thappu / October 27, 2018
Dear Forumites, If you are not ashamed of the politics of SL, you should be ashamed of yourself!
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Naman / October 27, 2018
Final Conclusion on SL:
CRIME PAYS
Victims suffer
Justice not served
No salvation to the current and future citizens of Sri Lanka
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Tamil from the north / October 28, 2018
Hey RW, stop crying now about MR and his hoodlum brothers. When you were there as a PM, you sat on your hands and never brought MR bugger and his hoodlum family to justice. Now what are you crying about? You deserve this 100%!!!!
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