Lankan court issues order to prevent Rajapaksa ‘as PM’

Bloomberg

Sri Lanka’s Court of Appeal issued an interim order preventing newly appointed prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his government’s ministers from exercising powers until it hears a petition challenging their authority.
The court issued its order on Monday after 122 members of Sri Lanka’s parliament, who are allied with ousted prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, filed a legal action on November 23 challenging Rajapaksa’s authority as prime minister.
Wickremesinghe was quick to respond on Twitter. The decision was a “triumph of democratic institutions over the whims of individuals,” he wrote. “We stand ready to face elections in a legitimate manner in line with the constitution.”
Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena plunged the island nation into political chaos by unexpectedly replacing Wickremesinghe with Rajapaksa in late October.
The president suspended parliament and later called for fresh general elections, a move that was stalled by Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court.
Lawmakers opposing Rajapaksa had already voted on November 28 to freeze his office’s spending in a bid to crimp the new government’s ability to implement policies.