In a setback to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, a deputy minister of his United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government resigned Tuesday and backed ousted prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in the ongoing political crisis.

President Sirisena sacked Prime Minister Wickremesinghe on October 26 and replaced him with Mahinda Rajapaksa, a controversial former president, and suspended parliamentary proceedings until November 16.

Manusha Nanayakkara, who was in Sirisena/Rajapaksa original list of 96 MPs, said in a letter to Sirisena Tuesday that in his opinion Wickremesinghe was still the legitimate prime minister as accepted by the parliamentary speaker Karu Jayasuriya.

He resigned as the deputy minister of Labour and Foreign Employment to leave the Sirisena camp and join Wickremesinghe. He was sworn in as the deputy minister only on November 1.

In a video message, Nanayakkara said that he does not approve of the arbitrary political appointments that have taken place and will support the struggle to protect and uphold democracy.&nbsp;

Nanayakkara's defection came hours after Sirisena announced publicly that people should not doubt his majority - 113 in the 225-member legislature.

Legislators have been switching sides ever since the island nation was plunged into a political and constitutional crisis with Sirisena's move to sack Wickremesinghe last month.

Rajapaksa had been bolstered by at least 9 defections from Wickremesinghe's United National Party and Tamil National Alliance.

Since the crisis broke out there have been media reports that MPs were offered up to 500 million rupees to switch sides.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya on Monday slammed Sirisena's "unconstitutional and undemocratic" actions to sack Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and suspend Parliament, saying he will not recognise Rajapaksa as the new premier unless he wins a floor test.

He asked the president to reconvene the parliament for a floor test and end the ongoing political crisis.

Sirisena's side charged that Jayasuriya, a UNP senior, was backing his party leader Wickremesinghe by compromising the neutral position of speaker of parliament.&nbsp;

In a setback to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, a deputy minister of his United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government resigned Tuesday and backed ousted prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in the ongoing political crisis.

In a setback to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, a deputy minister of his United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government resigned Tuesday and backed ousted prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in the ongoing political crisis. President Sirisena sacked Prime Minister Wickremesinghe on October 26 and replaced him with Mahinda Rajapaksa, a controversial former president, and suspended parliamentary proceedings until November 16. Manusha Nanayakkara, who was in Sirisena/Rajapaksa original list of 96 MPs, said in a letter to Sirisena Tuesday that in his opinion Wickremesinghe was still the legitimate prime minister as accepted by the parliamentary speaker Karu Jayasuriya. He resigned as the deputy minister of Labour and Foreign Employment to leave the Sirisena camp and join Wickremesinghe. He was sworn in as the deputy minister only on November 1. In a video message, Nanayakkara said that he does not approve of the arbitrary political appointments that have taken place and will support the struggle to protect and uphold democracy. Nanayakkara's defection came hours after Sirisena announced publicly that people should not doubt his majority - 113 in the 225-member legislature. Legislators have been switching sides ever since the island nation was plunged into a political and constitutional crisis with Sirisena's move to sack Wickremesinghe last month. Rajapaksa had been bolstered by at least 9 defections from Wickremesinghe's United National Party and Tamil National Alliance. Since the crisis broke out there have been media reports that MPs were offered up to 500 million rupees to switch sides. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya on Monday slammed Sirisena's "unconstitutional and undemocratic" actions to sack Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and suspend Parliament, saying he will not recognise Rajapaksa as the new premier unless he wins a floor test. He asked the president to reconvene the parliament for a floor test and end the ongoing political crisis. Sirisena's side charged that Jayasuriya, a UNP senior, was backing his party leader Wickremesinghe by compromising the neutral position of speaker of parliament.

Lanka political crisis: Deputy minister Nanayakkara resigns Sirisena govt, joins Ranil Wickremsinghe

Sri Lankan police chief Pujith Jayasundera said on Wednesday that he was taking orders from President Maithripala Sirisena and he was not in a position to take orders from the law and order minister of ousted prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jayasundera was responding to a letter sent to him by Ranjith Madduma Bandara, the Wickremesinghe government's law and order minister, who had directed that all ministers who were in office before October 26 be provided police security.

Jayasundera said that the Ministerial Security could only be provided on the recommendations of President Sirisena. He added that it could not be provided based on requests made by Ministers or other officials.

President Sirisena on October 26 sacked Wickremesinghe as the prime minister and replaced him with Mahinda Rajapaksa, triggering a constitutional crisis in the island.

Parliament Speaker Karu Jayasuriya on Monday slammed Sirisena's "unconstitutional and undemocratic" actions to sack Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and suspend Parliament, saying he will not recognise Rajapaksa as the new premier unless he wins a floor test.

Madduma Bandara had written to Jayasundera following Jayasuriya's recognition of the Wickremesinghe government.

Several MPs of Wickremesinghe's camp have also requested the police chief to provide them with Ministerial Security, saying they were still ministers of the government. 
Rajapaksa needs 113 seats in the 225-member assembly to prove simple majority.

In a setback to President Sirisena, deputy minister Manusha Nanayakkara of his United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government resigned Tuesday and backed ousted prime minister Wickremesinghe in the ongoing political crisis.

Nanayakkara's defection came hours after Sirisena announced publicly that people should not doubt his majority - 113 in the 225-member legislature.

Meanwhile, the main Tamil party - Tamil National Alliance - said Sirisena met the party leaders this morning to urge them to change their stance of opposing the Rajapaksa appointment.

The TNA leader MA Sumanthiran said they told Sirisena that their stance stood and there will be no reversal.

The party also urged Sirisena to reconvene parliament at an earlier date than the scheduled November 14. Sirisena said their request would be considered.&nbsp;

Sri Lankan police chief Pujith Jayasundera said on Wednesday that he was taking orders from President Maithripala Sirisena and he was not in a position to take orders from the law and order minister of ousted prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Sri Lankan police chief Pujith Jayasundera said on Wednesday that he was taking orders from President Maithripala Sirisena and he was not in a position to take orders from the law and order minister of ousted prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jayasundera was responding to a letter sent to him by Ranjith Madduma Bandara, the Wickremesinghe government's law and order minister, who had directed that all ministers who were in office before October 26 be provided police security. Jayasundera said that the Ministerial Security could only be provided on the recommendations of President Sirisena. He added that it could not be provided based on requests made by Ministers or other officials. President Sirisena on October 26 sacked Wickremesinghe as the prime minister and replaced him with Mahinda Rajapaksa, triggering a constitutional crisis in the island. Parliament Speaker Karu Jayasuriya on Monday slammed Sirisena's "unconstitutional and undemocratic" actions to sack Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and suspend Parliament, saying he will not recognise Rajapaksa as the new premier unless he wins a floor test. Madduma Bandara had written to Jayasundera following Jayasuriya's recognition of the Wickremesinghe government. Several MPs of Wickremesinghe's camp have also requested the police chief to provide them with Ministerial Security, saying they were still ministers of the government. Rajapaksa needs 113 seats in the 225-member assembly to prove simple majority. In a setback to President Sirisena, deputy minister Manusha Nanayakkara of his United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government resigned Tuesday and backed ousted prime minister Wickremesinghe in the ongoing political crisis. Nanayakkara's defection came hours after Sirisena announced publicly that people should not doubt his majority - 113 in the 225-member legislature. Meanwhile, the main Tamil party - Tamil National Alliance - said Sirisena met the party leaders this morning to urge them to change their stance of opposing the Rajapaksa appointment. The TNA leader MA Sumanthiran said they told Sirisena that their stance stood and there will be no reversal. The party also urged Sirisena to reconvene parliament at an earlier date than the scheduled November 14. Sirisena said their request would be considered.

Sri Lanka police chief says he's taking orders from President

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Lanka political crisis: Deputy minister Nanayakkara resigns Sirisena govt, joins Ranil Wickremsinghe

Sri Lanka police chief says he's taking orders from President