In Sri Lanka, President Maithripala Sirisena has told his MPs not to join the government of Ranil Wickremsinghe. The President is reported to have conveyed this to a group of 21 MPs of Sri Lanka Freedom Party Members (SLFP) in a meeting today.
His views assume significance as some of the SLFP MPs had expressed desire to join the new government of Mr. Wickremsinghe, who was sworn in again on Sunday. These 21 MPs were part of unity government till October 26 but had parted ways to join the government of Mahinda Rajapaksa. The cabinet is being finalised and likely to be sworn-in, in the coming days.
President Sirisena decided to reinstate Mr. Wickremsinghe, ending weeks long crisis but made it clear that he is personally against the appointment and did it out of respect for parliamentary traditions and democracy.
Meanwhile, Parliament is likely to debate a motion calling for the abolition of executive Presidency when it meets later today. It is a step towards the enactment of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution to prune further the powers of the Executive Presidency.
