President issues extraordinary gazette declaring Mahinda as new PM.

Byline: LBO

Oct 27, 2018 (LBO) - President Maithripala Sirisena has issued two extraordinary gazette notifications a few hours ago removing Ranil Wickremasinghe from the post and appointing Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new Prime Minister.

Secretary to the President Udaya R Seneviratne issuing a gazette notification on behalf of the President said under Article 42(4) of the Constitution Mahinda Rajapaksa has appointed to the Office of Prime Minister with effect from October 26, 2018.

Meanwhile, the UNP has called on the Speaker to hold a special Parliamentary session on Sunday to resolve the issue by showing the majority in Parliament. The Speaker and other small political parties are yet to comment on the issue.

Police Spokesman says IGP Pujith Jayasundara has ordered to cancel all leave applications of Police personnel with immediate effect. Jayasundara who met Rajapaksa at his official residence yesterday has reportedly pledged that he will uphold the law and order in the country.

It seems that the Joint Opposition led by Mahinda Rajapaksa has already taken control of the state-owned Television stations Rupavahini and ITN.

The relevant section of Sri Lanka's 19th amendment to the constitution is reproduced below:

CHAPTER VIII

THE EXECUTIVE

The Cabinet of Ministers

Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers

42.

(1) There shall be a Cabinet of Ministers charged with the direction and control of the Government of the Republic.

(2) The Cabinet of Ministers shall be collectively responsible and answerable to Parliament.

(3) The President shall be a member of the Cabinet of Ministers and shall be the Head of the Cabinet of Ministers.

(4) The President shall appoint as Prime Minister the Member of Parliament, who, in the President's opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of Parliament.

Tenure of office of the Prime Minister, and the limitation of numbers and tenure of office of Ministers and Deputy Ministers

46.

(1) The total number of-

(a) Ministers of the Cabinet of Ministers shall not exceed thirty; and

(b) Ministers who are not members of the Cabinet of Ministers and Deputy Ministers shall not, in the aggregate, exceed forty.

(2) The Prime Minister shall continue to hold office throughout the period during...