Sri Lanka: Top court stays dissolution of parliament

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a stay on a decision by President Maithripala Sirisena to dissolve the parliament.

On Friday, the president dissolved the parliament and called snap polls, two weeks after sacking Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and appointing Mahinda Rajapaksa, a former president of Sri Lanka in his place.

In doing so he created a constitutional crisis as Rajapakasa lacked majority in the parliament. His only way out was to dissolve the parliament.

The move was challenged in the top court by 16 petitioners.

The stay order is effective till Dec. 18 and the court will resume hearing the case between Dec. 5-7.