Fri, Nov 23, 2018, 11:52 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Nov 23, Colombo: Sri Lanka's parliamentarians opposing the de facto government have challenged in court the authority of the Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena after sacking incumbent Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe last month.
As many as 122 Members of Parliament in the opposition on Friday have filed a Writ of Quo Warranto in the Court of Appeal of challenging Mahinda Rajapaksa on what authority he continues to hold the office of Prime Minister after a no confidence motion had been passed in Parliament against him.
The case is likely to be heard early next week, legal sources told The Hindu.
The opposition of 122 members in 225-legislature has voted out Prime Minister Rajapaksa and his purported government twice earlier and for the third time today. However, his supporters have refused to accept the rejection saying that the votes were not taken according to the "proper parliamentary procedures"
However, the Speaker ruled that a majority in the House had voted against Mr. Rajapaksa in a motion that adhered to the rule book.
The Speaker�s declaration was subsequently published in the Hansard (official transcripts of parliamentary proceedings) and is likely to be produced as evidence in the case, The Hindu said.
