Voting begins in Sri Lanka’s parliamentary election
Voting in Sri Lanka's parliamentary poll started on Thursday to elect 225 members to the Parliament with President Anura Kumara Dissanyake seeking a majority.
The External Affairs Ministry on Sunday said that India is keeping a close watch on the political developments in Sri Lanka after the country’s President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, replacing him with Mahinda Rajapaksa.
President Maithripala Sirisena has on Saturday suspended Parliament till November.
“India is closely following the recent political developments in Sri Lanka,” External Affairs Ministry spokesman Raveeh Kumar said in response to queries from the media.
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“As a democracy and a close friendly neighbour, we hope that democratic values and the constitutional process will be respected,” Kumar said.
“We will continue to extend our developmental assistance to the friendly people of Sri Lanka.”
Mahinda Rajapaksa was appointed as the island nation’s new Prime Minister by Sirisena on Friday night, shocking “ousted” leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and his United National Party (UNP).
Rajapaksa-led Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) had said on Saturday that the new Prime Minister has secured a majority in the island’s 225-member Parliament and will continue to retain his job despite protests from the ruling United National Party (UNP).
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