"The situation in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are very different. Sri Lanka was politically and economically down during that period, but under Sheikh Hasina it is not same in Bangladesh. The main problems in Bangladesh are the quota system, corruption", says Dayasiri Jayasekara, Sri Lanka Freedom Party's (SLFP) General Secretary while speaking to WION's Dasuni Athauda.

'Sri Lanka and Bangladesh's situations are very different', says Dayasiri Jayasekara

WION's correspondent Dasuni Athauda in an exclusive interview speaks to Opposition leader and General Secretary of Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Dayasiri Jayasekara about the latest developments in the island nation and what this possible formation of Interim government will mean for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka: General Secretary of SLFP, Dayasiri Jayasekara in an exclusive interview with WION

Six ministers of President Maithripala Sirisena-led unity government in Sri Lanka resigned on Thursday, days after they voted against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in the no-trust motion moved by the Joint Opposition.

The ministers, who were from the Sirisena-led ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) which is a coalition partner in the unity government with the Wickremesinghe-led United National Party (UNP), sent their resignation to the President late last night.

We have informed the President that we are leaving the government as of midnight yesterday," Disaster Management Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said.

The other ministers who have resigned include Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara, Minister of Social Empowerment and Welfare S B Dissanayake, Labour Minister John Seneviratne, Minister of Science, Technology and Research Susil Premajayantha and Minister of Skills

Development and Vocational Training Chandima Weerakkody.

Yapa and the five ministers had voted against Wickremesinghe in the last week's no trust motion brought by former President Mahinda Rajapaska-led Joint Opposition (JO), following which the UNP members had been demanding their ouster from the government.

Ten other state and deputy ministers had also voted against the premier.

Yapa said they were aware that it was not ethical for them to remain in the Cabinet after voting against the PM. We will now act as SLFP members, we will not be joining the JO. Our duty will be to promote the SLFP from now on?, he added.

The other SLFP ministers, who had remained absent from the House during the no-confidence motion, will remain in the government, sources said.

The country had plunged into a political crisis after the victory of Rajapaksa's newly formed party in elections to 10 local councils in February.

It won two-thirds of the 340 council seats, trouncing the parties headed by Sirisena and Wickremesinghe.

Sirisena immediately urged the resignation of Wickremesinghe but he stood ground. The premier also was faced with resignation calls by at least two of his own party ministers.

With strong backing from the Tamil and Muslim minority parties, including some allies of Sirisena, Wickremesinghe romped home dealing political blows on both Sirisena and Rajapaksa.

The resignation of minister has now triggered a Cabinet reshuffle, officials said.&nbsp;

The ministers, who were from the Sirisena-led ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) which is a coalition partner in the unity government with the Wickremesinghe-led United National Party (UNP), sent their resignation to the President late last night

Six ministers of President Maithripala Sirisena-led unity government in Sri Lanka resigned on Thursday, days after they voted against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in the no-trust motion moved by the Joint Opposition. The ministers, who were from the Sirisena-led ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) which is a coalition partner in the unity government with the Wickremesinghe-led United National Party (UNP), sent their resignation to the President late last night. We have informed the President that we are leaving the government as of midnight yesterday," Disaster Management Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said. The other ministers who have resigned include Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara, Minister of Social Empowerment and Welfare S B Dissanayake, Labour Minister John Seneviratne, Minister of Science, Technology and Research Susil Premajayantha and Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training Chandima Weerakkody. Yapa and the five ministers had voted against Wickremesinghe in the last week's no trust motion brought by former President Mahinda Rajapaska-led Joint Opposition (JO), following which the UNP members had been demanding their ouster from the government. Ten other state and deputy ministers had also voted against the premier. Yapa said they were aware that it was not ethical for them to remain in the Cabinet after voting against the PM. We will now act as SLFP members, we will not be joining the JO. Our duty will be to promote the SLFP from now on?, he added. The other SLFP ministers, who had remained absent from the House during the no-confidence motion, will remain in the government, sources said. The country had plunged into a political crisis after the victory of Rajapaksa's newly formed party in elections to 10 local councils in February. It won two-thirds of the 340 council seats, trouncing the parties headed by Sirisena and Wickremesinghe. Sirisena immediately urged the resignation of Wickremesinghe but he stood ground. The premier also was faced with resignation calls by at least two of his own party ministers. With strong backing from the Tamil and Muslim minority parties, including some allies of Sirisena, Wickremesinghe romped home dealing political blows on both Sirisena and Rajapaksa. The resignation of minister has now triggered a Cabinet reshuffle, officials said.

6 Sri Lankan ministers quit Sirisena-led unity government

Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe defeated a no-confidence motion in parliament late Wednesday but political tensions rose after 13 MPs from an allied party voted against him.

Wickremesinghe said he would hold talks with President Maithripala Sirisena after coming through the battle by 122 votes to 76.

Sirisena has criticised the prime minister's handling of the economy and has in the past called on Wickremesinghe to stand down.

Thirteen members of Sirisena`s Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) joined opposition lawmakers to vote against the prime minister, whose United National Party is the largest single party in the 225-member assembly.

"We have started a lot of work and made many changes -- democracy, economy and rural development," the prime minister told reporters after the vote.

"We also faced problems such as drought, cost of living and some economic issues, we will study both positives and negatives and move forward."

Wickremesinghe said he will meet Sirisena soon to discuss how to proceed with their government, which was formed in 2015.

SLFP ministers were among the rebels who voted against the government.

"We will continue to be in the government," Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara, one of the 13, said after the vote.

But MP Hector Appuhamy, a Wickremesinghe supporter, said: "If they have any backbone, they should now leave the government."

Sirisena joined hands with Wickremesinghe's United National Party to end strongman president Mahinda Rajapakse's decade in power in a January 2015 election.

But the pair have become embroiled in a power struggle, especially over the economy and corruption, which has divided the coalition leadership.

Sirisena publicly blamed Wickremesinghe, a free-market champion, for mismanaging the economy as Sri Lanka's growth plunged to a 16-year low of 3.1 per cent in 2017.

A large bond scandal at Sri Lanka's central bank -- which fell under Wickremesinghe`s portfolio until Sirisena took it away last month -- deepened the acrimony between the two leaders.

The prime minister was cleared of any wrongdoing but was accused of trying to protect a former central bank governor, who is a suspect in the insider-trading scam.

The no-confidence motion was moved by an opposition group led by Rajapakse, who humiliated the governing coalition in a surprise blitz at the local elections in February.

The former strongman president wants a national election slated for 2020 brought forward.

Presidential powers to sack the government and call early elections were removed through a constitutional amendment introduced in the early days of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe coalition.

Coalition tensions have also escalated over Sirisena's attempts to extend his presidential term by a year until 2021, a move that was rejected by the Supreme Court.

Ranil Wickremesinghe said he would hold talks with President Maithripala Sirisena after coming through the battle by 122 votes to 76

Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe defeated a no-confidence motion in parliament late Wednesday but political tensions rose after 13 MPs from an allied party voted against him. Wickremesinghe said he would hold talks with President Maithripala Sirisena after coming through the battle by 122 votes to 76. Sirisena has criticised the prime minister's handling of the economy and has in the past called on Wickremesinghe to stand down. Thirteen members of Sirisena`s Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) joined opposition lawmakers to vote against the prime minister, whose United National Party is the largest single party in the 225-member assembly. "We have started a lot of work and made many changes -- democracy, economy and rural development," the prime minister told reporters after the vote. "We also faced problems such as drought, cost of living and some economic issues, we will study both positives and negatives and move forward." Wickremesinghe said he will meet Sirisena soon to discuss how to proceed with their government, which was formed in 2015. SLFP ministers were among the rebels who voted against the government. "We will continue to be in the government," Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara, one of the 13, said after the vote. But MP Hector Appuhamy, a Wickremesinghe supporter, said: "If they have any backbone, they should now leave the government." Sirisena joined hands with Wickremesinghe's United National Party to end strongman president Mahinda Rajapakse's decade in power in a January 2015 election. But the pair have become embroiled in a power struggle, especially over the economy and corruption, which has divided the coalition leadership. Sirisena publicly blamed Wickremesinghe, a free-market champion, for mismanaging the economy as Sri Lanka's growth plunged to a 16-year low of 3.1 per cent in 2017. A large bond scandal at Sri Lanka's central bank -- which fell under Wickremesinghe`s portfolio until Sirisena took it away last month -- deepened the acrimony between the two leaders. The prime minister was cleared of any wrongdoing but was accused of trying to protect a former central bank governor, who is a suspect in the insider-trading scam. The no-confidence motion was moved by an opposition group led by Rajapakse, who humiliated the governing coalition in a surprise blitz at the local elections in February. The former strongman president wants a national election slated for 2020 brought forward. Presidential powers to sack the government and call early elections were removed through a constitutional amendment introduced in the early days of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe coalition. Coalition tensions have also escalated over Sirisena's attempts to extend his presidential term by a year until 2021, a move that was rejected by the Supreme Court.

Sri Lanka prime minister wins no-confidence vote