Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been accused of massive corruption and atrocities during the country's civil war

Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena has named his predecessor, Mahinda Rajapaksa, as the country's new prime minister after the collapse of the governing coalition.

He sacked Premier Ranil Wickramasinghe after the president's United People's Freedom Alliance party (UPFA) quit the government.

Mr Sirisena beat Mr Rajapaksa in the 2015 presidential election.

Opponents say the move is unconstitutional.

Mr Wickramasinghe helped the president triumph in the 2015 poll, but the pair reportedly clashed in cabinet recently over government plans to lease a port to India.

The prime minister and his United National Party (UNP) came to power promising accountability for alleged atrocities committed in Sri Lanka's civil war and during Mr Rajapaksa's administration.

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera called his leader's sacking "an anti-democratic coup", saying Mr Wickramasinghe remained leader as he could not constitutionally be removed by the president.

And Cabinet spokesman Raitha Senaratne told the BBC that Mr Wickramasinghe remained the country's prime minister.

President Sirisena had been an ally of and minister under Mr Rajapaksa before turning against him.

Image copyright AFP/Getty Image caption President Maithripala Sirisena, left, reportedly clashed with Ranil Wickramasinghe in government

Mr Rajapaksa ended the civil war in 2009, but faced criticism for the means by which he achieved victory - many thousands of Tamil civilians are thought to have been killed by government forces in the final months of the fighting.

Over the 26-year conflict, between 80,000 and 100,000 people are estimated to have died, with both sides alleged to have perpetrated war crimes.

Moreover, the former president is also accused of corruption on an epic scale, along with his inner circle.

President Sirisena told the BBC shortly after his election victory that he planned to set up a domestic inquiry into the alleged civil war atrocities.

But poor headlines have dogged the president in recent weeks, tarnishing his image.

Mr Sirisena had to call India Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this month after reports that he said the Indian secret service was plotting to kill him at a cabinet meeting.

And in September he railed against national carrier Sri Lankan Airlines for serving him sub-par cashew nuts.</s>Sri Lanka’s president has issued a formal notice for Ranil Wickremesinghe to step down as prime minister and recognise his shock dismissal, in an unfolding constitutional crisis.

Hours after sacking his former ally, President Maithripala Sirisena issued gazettes formalising the dramatic move, and the installation of one-time strongman president Mahinda Rajapakse as the new prime minister.

However, Wickremesinghe continued to occupy Temple Trees, the official residence of the prime minister, and insisted in a letter to Sirisena that he was still in office.

He has said that he can be removed only by parliament where his party enjoys a majority, and also vowed to seek legal action against what he condemned as an unconstitutional move against him.

Sri Lanka's prime minister defeats former president Rajapaksa in elections Read more

“I am addressing you as the prime minister of Sri Lanka,” Wickremesinghe told reporters at a nationally televised press conference on Friday night. “I remain as prime minister and I will function as the prime minister.”

Since his rushed swearing in, Rajapakse is yet to announce the formation of a cabinet - which under the constitution is automatically dissolved when a prime minister is removed.

The parliamentary speaker, Karu Jayasuriya, has said that he will decide on Saturday whether to recognise Rajapakse or not, after seeking legal advice.

Parliament is not due to meet until 5 November when the 2019 national budget is due to be presented. The supreme court, which is empowered to resolve constitutional disputes, is shut for the weekend and reopens on Monday.

The president’s United People’s Freedom Alliance party had earlier Friday quit the coalition that had governed with Wickremesinghe’s party.

Speaking to jubilant supporters outside his Colombo home late Friday, Rajapakse also called on Wickremesinghe to step down.

Members of his party must “respect democracy, respect the country and respect the law”, the former president said through a loudhailer from a balcony.

Rajapakse loyalists stormed two state-owned television networks overnight – which they regard as loyal to the outgoing government – and forced them off the air.

Sri Lanka goes to polls as former leader Mahinda Rajapaksa plans comeback Read more

Video footage from private networks showed police overwhelmed by mobs at the Rupavahini national TV station but elsewhere in the capital streets remained calm.

As president for nine years beginning in 2005, Rajapakse crushed the Tamil Tigers in 2009, ending a 25-year conflict, but refused to acknowledge abuses committed during the bloody civil war.

The United States called on all sides in Sri Lanka to operate within the constitution and refrain from violence, and urged the island to move forward on post-war reconciliation.

“We call on all parties to act in accordance with Sri Lanka’s constitution, refrain from violence and follow due process,” the State Department said.

Constitutional lawyers, political activists and pundits have debated on social media and Sri Lankan TV whether Wickremesinghe’s ouster was legitimate. The constitution says the president has the right to appoint someone he thinks has a majority in parliament.

But the 19th amendment, added in 2015, says a prime minister can only be removed when he or she ceases to be a member of parliament such as for failing to meet criteria to be an elector or candidate, when a vote of no-confidence is passed, or when he or she chooses to resign.

Sri Lanka election: Mahinda Rajapaksa concedes he is unlikely to be PM Read more

“At the moment, there is a constitutional crisis – two persons each claiming to be the prime minister,” said Jehan Perera, executive director of the nonpartisan National Peace Council of Sri Lanka.

“What the president now should do immediately is to summon Parliament and have a vote. That’s the democratic way to resolve this crisis,” Perera said.

Rajapaksa lost a bid for re-election in 2015 amid mounting allegations of corruption and nepotism. Under his former government, dozens of journalists were killed, abducted and tortured and some fled the country fearing for their lives.

His return to power as prime minister could signal that Sri Lanka is sliding back to an era of violence against political opponents, critics and journalists, observers said.</s>Sri Lanka's president sacks prime minister, replaces him with former strongman

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka's president sacks prime minister, replaces him with former strongman.</s>Sri Lanka’s president has sacked the country’s prime minister and his cabinet and replaced him with a former strongman, in a shock move that plunged the island into an unprecedented constitutional crisis.

The president’s office announced the decision moments after the prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was informed he was being replaced by his former nemesis, Mahinda Rajapaksa, despite opponents saying the president had no power to do so under the constitution.

Wickremesinghe insisted he was still the legitimate prime minister and that he had no intention of leaving his post.

“I have the majority. I will function as the prime minister. I will remain as the prime minister,” he said.

Constitutional lawyers, political activists and pundits debated on social media and Sri Lankan TV into early Saturday whether Wickremesinghe’s ouster was legitimate. The constitution says the president, Maithripala Sirisena, has the right to appoint someone he thinks has a majority in parliament.

But the 19th amendment, added in 2015, says a prime minister can only be removed when he or she ceases to be a member of parliament such as for failing to meet criteria to be an elector or candidate, when a vote of no-confidence is passed, or when he or she chooses to resign.

Speaking to jubilant supporters outside his Colombo home, Rajapakse called on Wickremesinghe to step down.

Members of Wickremesinghe’s party must “respect democracy, respect the country and respect the law”, the ex-president said through a loudhailer from a balcony.

Rajapakse loyalists stormed two state-owned television networks overnight - which they regard as loyal to the outgoing government - and forced them off the air.

Video footage from private networks showed police overwhelmed by mobs at the Rupavahini national TV station but elsewhere in the capital streets remained calm.

The United States called on all sides in Sri Lanka to operate within the constitution and refrain from violence.

“At the moment, there is a constitutional crisis – two persons each claiming to be the prime minister,” said Jehan Perera, executive director of the nonpartisan National Peace Council of Sri Lanka.

“What the president now should do immediately is to summon Parliament and have a vote. That’s the democratic way to resolve this crisis,” Perera said.

Rajapaksa ruled Sri Lanka as president for nine years beginning in 2005, accumulating immense power and popularity among the country’s majority ethnic Sinhalese after overseeing the military’s brutal defeat of ethnic Tamil rebels in 2009, ending a 25-year civil war. Some supporters hailed him as a king and saviour.

But he also was criticised for failing to allow an investigation into allegations of war crimes by the military. Under his government, dozens of journalists were killed, abducted and tortured and some fled the country fearing for their lives. He lost a bid for re-election in 2015 amid mounting allegations of corruption and nepotism.

His return to power as prime minister could signal that Sri Lanka is sliding back to an era of violence against political opponents, critics and journalists, observers said.

“The appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister is unconstitutional and illegal. This is an undemocratic coup,” Mangala Samaraweera, finance minister of the outgoing government, said on Facebook.

The dramatic developments came after deepening disagreements between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe over economic policy and day-to-day administration of the government.

Sirisena is also believed to have been behind a failed attempt to impeach Wickremesinghe in April.</s>COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka’s president suspends Parliament after changing the prime minister in deepening political crisis.</s>Sri Lanka's president suspends Parliament after changing the prime minister in deepening political crisis

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka's president suspends Parliament after changing the prime minister in deepening political crisis.</s>Also Read: Mahinda Rajapaksa sworn in as Sri Lankan Prime Minister amid political drama

Sri Lanka's president issued a formal notice for Ranil Wickremesinghe to step down as prime minister and recognise his shock dismissal, in an unfolding constitutional crisis.

Hours after sacking his former ally, President Maithripala Sirisena issued gazettes formalising the dramatic move, and the installation of one-time strongman president Mahinda Rajapakse as the new prime minister.

Also Read: Ranil Wickremasinghe refuses to step down, says Rajapaksa appointment 'unconstitutional'

Reacting sharply to his sacking, Wickremesinghe asserted that the swearing in of Rajapaksa in his place is "illegal and unconstitutional" and he will prove his majority in Parliament. The United National Party (UNP) leader vowed to carry on as prime minister despite being removed by Sirisena.

"I will continue to be the Prime Minister. Mahinda Rajapaksa's appointment is unconstitutional," Wickremesinghe said.</s>COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka’s president has suspended parliament until Nov. 16, even as the prime minister he fired claims he has majority support.

Chaminda Gamage, a spokesman for the parliamentary speaker, confirmed President Maithripala Sirisena’s action on Saturday.

The suspension came while ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was holding a news conference in which he asserted that he could prove his majority support in parliament.

Sirisena sacked Wickremesinghe and his Cabinet on Friday and replaced him with a former strongman, creating what some observers said could be a constitutional crisis in the South Asian island nation.

Sirisena informed Wickremesinghe that he was being replaced by his former nemesis, Mahinda Rajapaksa.</s>COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena sacked the country's prime minister and his Cabinet and replaced him with a former strongman, creating what some observers said could be a constitutional crisis in the South Asian island nation.

The prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, told reporters Friday that he had no intention of leaving his post. "I have the majority. I will function as the prime minister. I will remain as the prime minister," he said.

Sirisena informed Wickremesinghe that he was being replaced by his former nemesis, Mahinda Rajapaksa, according to aide Mahinda Amaraweera.

Amaraweera, a lawmaker from Rajapaksa's party, said Rajapaksa had a majority needed in the 225-member Parliament for him to take over, but a recent constitutional amendment makes that unclear, experts said.

Constitutional lawyers, political activists and pundits debated on social media and Sri Lankan TV into early Saturday whether Wickremesinghe's ouster was legitimate.

The constitution says the president has the right to appoint someone he thinks has a majority in Parliament.

But the 19th amendment, added in 2015, says a prime minister can only be removed when he or she ceases to be a member of Parliament — such as for failing to meet criteria to be an elector or candidate, when a vote of no-confidence is passed, or when he or she chooses to resign.

"At the moment, there is a constitutional crisis — two persons each claiming to be the prime minister," said Jehan Perera, executive director of the nonpartisan National Peace Council of Sri Lanka.

"What the president now should do immediately is to summon Parliament and have a vote. That's the democratic way to resolve this crisis," Perera said.

Rajapaksa ruled Sri Lanka as president for nine years beginning in 2005, accumulating immense power and popularity among the country's majority ethnic Sinhalese after overseeing the military's brutal defeat of ethnic Tamil rebels in 2009, ending a 25-year civil war. Some supporters hailed him as a king and savior.

But he also was criticized for failing to allow an investigation into allegations of war crimes by the military. Under his government, dozens of journalists were killed, abducted and tortured and some fled the country fearing for their lives. He lost a bid for re-election in 2015 amid mounting allegations of corruption and nepotism.

His return to power as prime minister could signal that Sri Lanka is sliding back to an era of violence against political opponents, critics and journalists, observers said.

The move was an unexpected turn after weeks of controversy over allegations of an assassination plot against the president.

A police informant and self-described Sri Lankan anti-corruption activist, Namal Kumara, said last month that he had a taped conversation with Nalaka de Silva, head of the terrorism investigation department, describing a plan for a hired killer to assassinate Sirisena.

An Indian man whom authorities identified as M. Thomas was arrested at Kumara's house on suspicion of involvement in the plot. Thomas appeared in court Tuesday and was sent to a psychiatric hospital for further medical examination.

The alleged plot created a huge uproar and threatened to damage relations between Sri Lanka and neighboring India, after an Indian newspaper reported that Sirisena had accused India's intelligence services of involvement. Sirisena denied the newspaper's account.

Police say they are investigating the claim and that Kumara has been questioned but not charged with any offense.

Police arrested de Silva on Thursday, not for the alleged plot against Sirisena but on suspicion of plotting to kill his deputy, Prasanna Alwis.

It was not immediately clear whether either of the alleged plots were connected to Sirisena's ouster of Wickremesinghe, which ended an uneasy coalition government formed by their two bitterly opposed political parties on a pledge to tackle corruption.

Sirisena, who was health minister under Rajapaksa, and Wickremesinghe joined forces to defeat Rajapaksa in the 2015 election. Sirisena was elected president largely through votes from Wickremesinghe's party.

After winning the presidency as a neutral candidate, Sirisena accepted an offer from Rajapaksa to take over his Sri Lanka Freedom Party. Since then, party rivalries have simmered within the government, with Rajapaksa leading a splinter Freedom Party group.

"The appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister is unconstitutional and illegal. This is an undemocratic coup," Mangala Samaraweera, finance minister of the outgoing government, said on Facebook.

A private TV network loyal to Rajapaksa televised him being sworn in as the new prime minister.

Rajapaksa then visited a Buddhist temple in Colombo — a typical rite of passage for new leaders to receive religious blessings.

Some 200 supporters, some carrying photographs of him, gathered outside Rajapaksa's home late Friday to congratulate him. One of them, Amal Prasanna, said the move was "totally unexpected" but that he was happy Rajapaksa had returned.

"We expect economic development and a good future for our children," he said.

Traditionally, Sirisena's Sri Lanka Freedom Party has espoused left-of-center views and opposed economic liberalization, while Wickremesinghe's United National Party leans right and has championed reforms to open up Sri Lanka's economy.

His government also pledged justice for those accused of committing atrocities in Sri Lanka's civil war during Rajapaksa's rule.

Wickremesinghe had survived a no-confidence motion in Parliament in April, which was brought by supporters of Rajapaksa. The main allegation against Wickremesinghe involved his appointment of a Singaporean as the central bank governor who is now accused of leaking inside information to benefit his son-in-law in a treasury bond sale.</s>President Maithripala Sirisena Friday sacked his Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and appointed former president Mahinda Rajapakse as the new premier, the president's office said.

A private television network loyal to Rajapakse televised him being sworn in as the new prime minister, replacing Wickremesinghe.

There was no immediate word from Wickremesinghe, who helped Sirisena win the January 2015 elections against Rajapakse.

The surprise move comes after disagreements between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe over economic policy and day-to-day administration of the government.

The pair were reported to have clashed in cabinet last week over government plans to lease a port terminal to neighbouring India.

Wickremesinghe's government came to power promising economic reforms and accountability for atrocities committed in Sri Lanka's bloody civil war during Rajapakse's presidency.
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremasinghe is replaced by Mahinda Rajapakse.