Sri Lanka's Supreme Court overturned President Maithripala Sirisena attempt to fire his prime minister and suspend Parliament on Tuesday while the country continued to grapple with the ongoing constitutional crisis, according to The Hindustan Times.
Justices said Sirisena did not have the authority to dissolve Parliament and issued an order which stayed the president's attempt to replace the sitting lawmakers through a snap election next year.
The court put his plan to hold the elections in January on hold while it considers constitutional arguments against the decision.
The three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Nalin Perera read out the decision amid heavy security with armed police and commandos.
Many outside the court celebrated the ruling, with many claiming Sirisena violated the constitution of the nation island through his numerous power grab actions in recent weeks which began when he fired Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in October.
"The people have won their first victory," tweeted Wickremesinghe after the court ruling.
He had refused to give up his position to former strongman and pro-China leader Mahinda Rajapaksa.
"Let's go forward and re-establish the sovereignty of the people in our beloved country," Wickremesinghe said.
The court's decision will likely not end the political crisis which has roiled the very top level of Sri Lankan politicians and created tense protests across the capital of Colombo for the last several weeks.
Sirisena claimed Wickremesinghe's cabinet was plotting to assassinate him and Rajapaksa and after briefly meeting with legislators from Parliament, he reversed course on reconvening the body and said it would be dissolved entirely.
"As leaders, it is our responsibility and obligation to give the people the opportunity to voice their opinions on the future of [Sri Lanka]," said Rajapaksa of the move. "A general election will truly establish the will of the people and make way for a stable country."
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But now that plan for elections ins on hold until early next month and lawmakers will reconvene in Parliament on Wednesday to address the crisis.
Parliament will likely hold a vote to determine whether Sirisena has the support for the majority of lawmakers, but members of Wickremesinghe's party have said Sirisena does not have enough votes.
"It is difficult for me to remain silent in the face of severe violation of democratic principles," the speaker of Parliament, Karu Jayasuriya, said in a statement released last week.
Jayasuriya also said he would not accept Sirisena's actions without support from Parliament's majority.
"I am compelled to accept the status that existed previously until such time that they and the new political alliance prove their majority in Parliament."
-WN.com, Maureen Foody
Photo:
AP / Eranga Jayawardena
