Lanka opposition demands Wickremesinghe resignation

Sri Lanka's opposition faction led by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa today demanded sacking of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, saying the electoral reforms can go ahead only under a majority government.
The opposition Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) had yesterday moved a motion of no confidence against Wickremesinghe.
"We call for the sacking of the Prime Minister (Ranil Wickremesinghe) and forming a majority government. We can then go ahead with the electoral reforms outlined in the twentieth amendment," Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) leader, G L Peiris told reporters today.
"His defeat should lead to his resignation, he added. The reforms must be taken only under a majority government, this is the reality," Peiris said.

President Maithripala Sirisena appointed Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister after he defeated Rajapaksa in the presidential polls held in January.
However, Rajapaksa loyalists in the Sri Lanka Freedom Party now led by Sirisena demand that Wickremesinghe be sacked and replaced by a Rajapaksa loyalist.
Sirisena, who pledged to dissolve the current parliament by April 23, has held back the decision until he could finish his democratic reform agenda.
The SLFP and allies hold over 130 MPs in the 225 assembly over the simple majority mark of 113.