Mahinda Rajapaksa resigns as Sri Lanka's PM, Wickremsinghe reinstated

Rajapaksa was appointed single-handedly by Sirisena in a controversial move on October 26 as he sacked incumbent Prime Minister Wickremsinghe plunging a country in a constitutional crisis.

Sri Lanka's former president and newly appointed prime minister Mahinda Rajapakse (L) speaks with President Maithripala Sirisena at a rally in Colombo on November 5, 2018. - Thousands of supporters of former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse headed for the capital on November 5 to rally in support of his controversial nomination as prime minister, as the island's constitutional crisis deepened. (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI / AFP)

New Delhi: Controversial Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa who was appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena in a widely criticised move, resigned on Saturday.  He informed the UPFA legislators that he has resigned from the post, MP Shehan Semasinghe told reporters. Rajapaksa was appointed single-handedly by Sirisena in a controversial move on October 26 as he sacked incumbent Prime Minister Wickremsinghe plunging a country in a constitutional crisis. The apex court of the country on Friday declared that the dissolution of Parliament by Sirisena was "illegal" and refused to stay a court order restraining Rajapaksa, 73, from holding the office of Prime Minister until it fully heard the case next month. Rajapaksa, in a meeting with President Sirisena on Friday decided to resign and allow the President to appoint a new government; after which President Maithripala Sirisena has reportedly agreed to reinstate ousted Prime Minister Wickremesinghe in the post. He reportedly had a discussion with Wikcremsinghe over the phone on Friday. Wickremesinghe is expected to take oath as Sri Lanka's Prime Minister on Sunday.