NEW DELHI (AP) - Sri Lanka is in the midst of a political crisis set off by the president's decisions to remove the South Asian island nation's prime minister, dissolve Parliament and call snap elections.
The moves have triggered public protests and international criticism, including from some of the country's biggest donors.
A look at the key players and moments in the ongoing saga:
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A POLITICAL RIVALRY REIGNITES
The crisis centers around three main characters: President Maithripala Sirisena, ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, and former strongman President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was recently appointed prime minister by Sirisena.
FILE- In this Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, file photo, Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena, right, and his newly appointed prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa wave to supporters during a rally held out side the parliamentary complex in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan is in the midst of a political crisis set off by the president's decisions to remove the South Asian island nation's prime minister, dissolve Parliament and call snap elections. The moves have triggered public protests and international criticism, including from some of the country's biggest donors. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena, file)
Sirisena and Wickremesinghe are ideological opponents who formed a coalition to defeat Rajapaksa in 2015 elections. Rajapaksa, who was president from 2005 to 2015, is considered a hero by some in Sri Lanka's ethnic Sinhalese majority because he oversaw the end of a 25-year civil war by crushing ethnic minority Tamil rebels in 2009.
But his time in power was marred by allegations of war-time atrocities, corruption and nepotism.
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BUILDING TENSIONS
Tensions had been building between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe for some time, as the president did not approve of economic reforms introduced by the prime minister.
Wickremesinghe's government came under fire last year after handing over operations of a port to a Chinese company in a 99-year lease that the previous government had built in Rajapaksa's home district with Chinese loans. Rajapaksa described the deal to his left-leaning supporters as a bid by Wickremesinghe to privatize national assets. Wickremesinghe said in an interview with The Associated Press that the deal helped the country avoid defaulting on debts accumulated during Rajapaksa's presidency.
Sirisena has accused Wickremesinghe and another Cabinet member of plotting to assassinate him, a charge that Wickremesinghe has repeatedly denied and that so far has not led to any arrests.
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A POWER PLAY
On Oct. 26, the alliance between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe formally fell apart, with Sirisena naming Rajapaksa the new prime minister and suspending Parliament.
After a week of upheaval, Sirisena announced he was dissolving Parliament and calling snap elections due on Jan. 5. He later explained in a nationally televised address that he dissolved Parliament out of fear that lawmakers would come to blows over his Oct. 26 decision.
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REFUSING TO STAND DOWN
Wickremesinghe has been holed up in the prime minister's official residence in Colombo - surrounded by a skeleton security crew, supporters and Buddhist monks - since he was ousted and maintains he is the country's rightful leader. He has repeatedly called for Parliament to be reconvened so that he could prove his majority support among the country's 225 lawmakers.
He alleges that the snap election was called only when it became clear that Rajapaksa had failed to lure enough lawmakers to his side with offers of cash and jobs and would lose any confidence vote in Parliament.
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A CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION
There is debate over whether Sirisena's Oct. 26 move was legal.
He has cited a general clause in Sri Lanka's Constitution stating that the president has the power to summon or suspend Parliament.
Supreme Court petitioners challenging Sirisena's actions argue that a specific clause in the 19th amendment, added in 2015, stipulates that Parliament can't be dissolved until 4 1/2 years after its election, unless 2/3 of Parliament requests it happen sooner. The current Parliament was elected in August 2015.
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WHO'S RUNNING SRI LANKA
Sirisena and Rajapaksa formed a Cabinet of party loyalists and government defectors within days of the Oct. 26 shakeup. They quickly cut fuel prices, a popular measure among those who blamed the Wickremesinghe-led government for Sri Lanka's sluggish economy.
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THE PUBLIC REACTS
Members of Wickremesinghe's political coalition, supporters and chanting Buddhist monks quickly set up camp in a hall at the prime minister's official residence after Sirisena withdrew most of Wickremesinghe's security personnel.
Four days into the crisis, at least 10,000 people marched through central Colombo demanding that Sirisena summon Parliament.
Sirisena and Rajapaksa responded by organizing a massive rally on Nov. 5, with politicians from their party bringing busloads of constituents into Colombo. Police estimated at least 120,000 attended.
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INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNATION
The U.S. has said that Sirisena's decision to dissolve Parliament "poses a vital threat to Sri Lanka's democratic institutions." Colombo-based diplomats from Australia, the U.K. and the European Union also issued statements calling for the country's constitution and democracy to be respected.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has offered to moderate discussions between Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe. On Sunday, he urged the government to respect "democratic processes and institutions."
China and India have been careful not to take an overt position in Sri Lanka, which has been a battleground in their struggle for geopolitical supremacy in South Asia.
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WHAT'S NEXT
Petitioners asked the Supreme Court on Monday to declare Sirisena's decrees null and void. That decision could come as early as Tuesday.
Both Rajapaksa and Sirisena have said they will face the Jan. 5 election together.
Sirisena suggested on Sunday that he could have Wickremesinghe forcibly removed from the prime minister's residence.
FILE- In this Thursday, Nov.8, 2018, file photo, Sri Lanka's ousted prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, center, waves as members of his United National Party (UNP) take out a vehicle parade demanding that Parliament be convened in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan is in the midst of a political crisis set off by the president's decisions to remove the South Asian island nation's prime minister, dissolve Parliament and call snap elections. The moves have triggered public protests and international criticism, including from some of the country's biggest donors. (AP Photo/Rukmal Gamage, file)
FILE- In this Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, file photo, a Sri Lankan man reads a newspaper reporting about the dissolution of parliament in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan is in the midst of a political crisis set off by the president's decisions to remove the South Asian island nation's prime minister, dissolve Parliament and call snap elections. The moves have triggered public protests and international criticism, including from some of the country's biggest donors. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Linkhienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2018/11/12/ap-explains-the-latest-in-sri-lankas-political-crisis/
Main photo article NEW DELHI (AP) – Sri Lanka is in the midst of a political crisis set off by the president’s decisions to remove the South Asian island nation’s prime minister, dissolve Parliament and call snap elections.
The moves have triggered public protests and international criticism,...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/11/12/14/wire-6088328-1542034467-73_634x464.jpg
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