Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Tensions Prevail As Pressure Mounts For Sri Lanka Parliament Recall Amid 'Bloodbath' Warnings

Ousted Sri Lankan prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday (29) demanded parliament be allowed to choose between the two rivals to run the country's government amid warnings that the constitutional crisis could become a ‘bloodbath.”

With tensions already heightened by the killing of one activist, the United States added to international pressure on President Maithripala Sirisena to annul his suspension of parliament to end the power struggle.


Wickremesinghe remained defiant at the prime minister's residence which he has not left since being sacked on Friday (26) when Sirisena called in former strongman Mahinda Rajapakse to take over the government.

Rajapakse started his rival duties in a low key ceremony and his aides said he could name some ministers on Monday.

"At the moment there is a vacuum, no one is in full charge of the country," Wickremesinghe told reporters at the residence, which is surrounded by over 1,000 of his supporters and chanting Buddhist monks.

He insisted that the legislature had judicial powers to resolve the crisis and said his dismissal was illegal.

"That is why we want parliament summoned immediately to decide who enjoys the majority. I am still the prime minister who commands that majority."

Sirisena followed up the sacking of his former ally by swearing in Rajapakse and suspending parliament, where Wickremesinghe's party is the biggest party, until November 16.

Parliament speaker Karu Jayasuriya, who refused to endorse Sirisena's shock dismissal of Wickremesinghe on Sunday (28) also added to the warnings.

"We should settle this through parliament, but if we take it out to the streets, there will be a huge bloodbath," said Jayasuriya, who is a member of Wickremesinghe's party but whose post is officially neutral.

The speaker said he had urged Sirisena to let Wickremesinghe prove he has a majority on the floor of the House. He did not say if the president had responded.

However, he said there were disturbing reports of people loyal to Rajapakse storming state media institutions, intimidating editorial staff and also disrupting legitimate work of government ministries.

"Internationally, our image has suffered hugely as a result of this crisis," Jayasuriya said after meeting with the country's influential Buddhist clergy in the central pilgrim town of Kandy.

The power struggle has caused international concern and the United States urged Sirisena to "immediately reconvene parliament" to let lawmakers decide between Wickremesinghe and Rajapakse.

Rajapakse, who is seen as being closer to China than Wickremesinghe, said he was given the job because his predecessor's party "engaged in a quest to sell off valuable state assets and enterprises to foreign companies".

"I was aware that at this moment of national peril, the people expected our leadership and protection," Rajapakse said Monday in his first statement since his controversial elevation.

"Hence, I accepted the invitation."

Wickremesinghe leaned heavily on China for political support and took loans to build infrastructure which the new government described as white elephants.

His reliance on Beijing angered India, who Rajapakse blamed for his defeat in the last presidential polls.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Beijing was closely following the situation but believed Sri Lanka had "enough wisdom" to resolve it internally.

"Of course, I have also reiterated that the basic principle of China's diplomacy is not to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries," Lu told reporters in Beijing.

China's ambassador to Colombo, Cheng Xueyuan, met separately with Rajapakse and Wickremesinghe on Saturday (27).

Tensions remained high across the capital Colombo, with police leave cancelled and several legislators loyal to Wickremesinghe warning of street violence if parliament was not summoned.

Police said one man was killed and two were injured Sunday when bodyguards for petroleum minister Arjuna Ranatunga, a Wickremesinghe loyalist, fired at a group that attempted to take him hostage.

Rajapakse had earlier said his priority is to hold local council elections and also have a general election "as soon as possible." Parliamentary elections are not due until August 2020.

Agence France-Presse

More For You

uk weather

Amber heat health alerts have been issued across several regions of England

iStock

England faces widespread heat alerts and hosepipe bans amid rising temperatures

Highlights:

  • Amber heat health alerts in place for large parts of England
  • Hosepipe bans announced in Yorkshire, Kent and Sussex
  • Temperatures could reach 33°C over the weekend
  • Health risks rise, especially for elderly and vulnerable groups

Heat warnings in effect as UK braces for another hot weekend

Amber heat health alerts have been issued across several regions of England, with temperatures expected to climb to 33°C in some areas over the weekend. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) activated the warning at 12 pm on Friday, with it set to remain in place until 9 am on Monday.

The alerts cover the East Midlands, West Midlands, south-east, south-west, East of England, and London. Additional yellow alerts were issued for the north-east, north-west, and Yorkshire and the Humber, starting from midday Friday.

Keep ReadingShow less
Essex ladybird invasion

One of the largest gatherings was filmed on a beach at Point Clear

Dee-anne Markiewicz / SWNS

Swarms of ladybirds invade Essex coastline amid soaring temperatures

Highlights:

  • Ladybird swarms reported across Essex and Suffolk coastal towns
  • Hot weather likely driving the sudden surge in population
  • Sightings include Point Clear, Shoebury, Clacton and Felixstowe
  • Similar outbreaks occurred in 1976 during another hot UK summer

Sudden surge in ladybird numbers across the southeast

Millions of ladybirds have been spotted swarming towns and villages along the Essex coast, with similar sightings stretching into Suffolk. Residents have reported unusually high numbers of the red and black-spotted insects, particularly near coastal areas, with the recent hot weather believed to be a major contributing factor.

One of the largest gatherings was filmed on a beach at Point Clear, a village near St Osyth in Essex, where the insects could be seen piling on top of each other on driftwood and plants.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kapil Sharma

Kapil Sharma’s Canada cafe shot at days after opening

Instagram/ginnichatrath

Kapil Sharma’s Canadian café targeted in shooting, Khalistani terrorist cites mockery of Nihang Sikhs as motive

Highlights:

  • Shots were fired at Kap’s Café in Surrey, Canada, owned by comedian Kapil Sharma, just days after its opening.
  • Khalistani extremist Harjit Singh Laddi, linked to banned group BKI, claimed responsibility.
  • The motive cited was an old comedy segment from The Kapil Sharma Show that allegedly mocked Nihang Sikhs.
  • No injuries were reported; Canadian authorities are investigating the incident.

Comedian Kapil Sharma’s recently launched Kap’s Café in Surrey, British Columbia, was the target of a shooting in the early hours of 10 July. Though no one was harmed, the property sustained significant damage. A known Khalistani extremist, Harjit Singh Laddi, has claimed responsibility for the attack, citing perceived religious disrespect on The Kapil Sharma Show.

 Kap\u2019s Cafe in Surrey  Kap’s Cafe in Surrey was struck by gunfire late at night with staff still insideInstagram/thekapscafe_

Keep ReadingShow less
Police probe hate crime over migrant effigies bonfire in Northern Ireland

Models depicting migrants wearing life jackets in a small boat alongside two banners reading 'Stop the boats' and 'Veterans before refugees' are displayed on top a bonfire in Moygashel, Northern Ireland, on July 9, 2025. (Photo by PETER MURPHY/AFP via Getty Images)

Police probe hate crime over migrant effigies bonfire in Northern Ireland

POLICE in Northern Ireland have launched a hate crime investigation after a bonfire topped with effigies of migrants in a boat was set alight in the village of Moygashel, County Tyrone.

The incident, which took place on Thursday (10) night, has drawn widespread condemnation from political leaders, church officials, and human rights groups.

Keep ReadingShow less
Navratri festival in Wembley

A similar event held at the same site last year resulted in a planning enforcement notice being issued due to complaints of noise and disturbance.

Getty Images

Navratri festival in Wembley faces objections

A PROPOSED 10-day Hindu festival in Wembley, north London, has drawn objections over concerns about noise and disruption in the area.

Asian Events Media (AEM) has applied to Brent Council to host the Navratri celebration at Alperton Studios from September 22 to October 1, according to The London Standard.

Keep ReadingShow less