Sri Lanka's strongman leader Mahinda Rajapaksa on Sunday called his five-decade-long association with Sri Lanka Freedom Party, news agency PTI reported. According to reports, Rajapaksa has now joined hands with the newly-formed Sri Lanka People's Party (SLPP).

Confident of 'sweeping' January 5 snap polls, Rajapaksa ends 50-year association with Sirisena's party

Sri Lanka's former strongman leader Mahinda Rajapaksa Sunday vowed snap elections would go ahead to "seek a mandate from the people" after the president's sacking of parliament plunged the country deeper into political turmoil.

Election will go ahead, I am confident we will sweep the polls: Rajapaksa

Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena`s decision to dissolve parliament, worsening an already major political crisis, has drawn criticism from Western powers, including the United States and Britain.

US and others denounce dissolution of Sri Lanka parliament by President Sirisena as undemocratic

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is attempting to guarantee authenticity as the nation's chief, after President Maithripala Sirisena selected former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his place and therefore prorogued Parliament until November 16.

Sirisena's decision led to the political crisis in Sri Lanka: Ranil Wickremesinghe to WION

Sri Lankan Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said Wednesday he wanted a floor test in parliament to resolve the issue of two prime ministers in the country which arose following the sacking of Ranil Wickremesinghe and replacing him with Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Sri Lanka assembly Speaker presses for floor test to end political crisis

Sri Lanka's parliamentary speaker has called the president's sacking of the prime minister to bring a former leader back to power a non-violent coup d'etat. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya is a key figure in the political standoff that started on October 26, when President Maithripala Sirisena fired Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and replaced him with former president Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Sri Lanka has suffered a 'coup without guns': Parliament speaker

Thousands of Sri Lankans marched Monday in support of a new government led by the country's former strongman, highlighting the political polarization in the Indian Ocean island nation.

Thousands march in support of Sri Lanka's new government

Sri Lanka's speaker of parliament said on Monday he would not accept a former president Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new prime minister until he proves he commands a majority in parliament.

Sri Lanka Speaker recognises Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister

The banquet hall at Sri Lanka's ousted prime minister's official residence is packed with supporters -- many sleeping on chairs and the floor -- who have come to stand guard as he tussles for power with an old rival.

Sacked Sri Lankan PM's residence becomes symbol of power struggle

Sri Lanka's sacked prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has warned time is running out to avert a "bloodbath" while voicing hope that parliament will resolve a damaging constitutional crisis in the coming days.

Sri Lanka's ousted PM  Ranil Wickremesinghe says time running out to avert 'bloodbath'

Attempts to win over MP defectors intensified in Sri Lanka's constitutional crisis Saturday amid growing pressure to let the suspended parliament hold a vote on the two rivals who each claim to be prime minister.

Sri Lanka rivals target defectors to end political crisis

Rival Asian giants India and China are anxiously watching the constitutional conflict between contending prime ministers in Sri Lanka to see whose interests get the upper hand in their own strategic battle.

India and China nervous spectators in Sri Lanka crisis

The United States is following developments in Sri Lanka with concern after a political turmoil sparked by the sudden sacking of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, and urged all parties to respect the due process, a senior US State Department official has said.

US following development in Sri Lanka, urges all sides to respect due process: State Department

Newly-appointed Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa`s cabinet was on Monday sworn in amid increasing pressure on President Maithripala Sirisena to convene an early session of the Parliament.

Newly appointed Sri Lankan cabinet sworn in

A political crisis in Sri Lanka took a deadly turn on Sunday, with one person killed when a sacked cabinet minister tried to re-enter his office, days after the president removed the prime minister and installed a powerful ally of China in his place.

Sri Lanka crisis turns violent as 1 killed at ex-minister's office

The US State Department on Sunday called on Sri Lanka's president to "immediately reconvene parliament" to allow representatives there to quell a violent constitutional crisis sparked by the prime minister's sudden sacking.

US urges Sri Lanka president to 'immediately reconvene parliament'

Sri Lankan parliament speaker Karu Jayasuriya warned Monday that the country's political crisis could turn into a "bloodbath" unless lawmakers were allowed to resolve a power struggle between the president and his ousted premier.

Parliament speaker warns of 'bloodbath' in Sri Lanka crisis

Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena is under increasing pressure to uphold the island nation's constitution and reconvene parliament after his decision to replace the prime minister triggered political turmoil.

Sri Lanka President Sirisena under increasing global pressure to end political crisis

Sacked Sri Lankan prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Saturday demanded the parliament speaker call an emergency session so he can prove his majority, officials said.

Ousted Sri Lanka PM Wickremesinghe seeks emergency parliament session

An Indian national who was aware of an alleged plot to assassinate Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has been arrested, a court was told. The Indian national, identified as M Thomas by Lankan media, was arrested on Tuesday from the residence of the Anti Corruption Movement operations director Namal Kumara, who exposed the assassination plot, CID Chief Inspector Ranjith Munasinghe informed the Fort Magistrate Court.

Indian national aware of alleged plot to kill Sri Lankan President arrested

Amirani said that five Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) were signed between the two countries in Tehran during Sirisena's visit

Iran invites Sri Lanka for Joint Economic Commission talks in Tehran

Tehran has invested in Sri Lanka's oil refinery to double its output capacity

Sirisena. Rouhani meet to strengthen economic, trade ties

Sirisena's remarks came as he wished the countrymen on the Sinhala and Tamil New Year

Sri Lanka: Sirisena asks all parties to work together

The motion scheduled for April 4 was handed over to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya by the Joint Opposition last week against Wickremesinghe

Sri Lanka: Rajapaksa hopes Sirisena will back no-confidence motion against PM

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