On Saturday, Mahinda Rajapaksa will be stepping down as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka ‘to ensure stability of the nation’, his son Namal confirmed on Friday.
Taking to his Twitter account, Namal said, “To ensure stability of the nation, Former President @PresRajapaksa has decided to resign from the Premiership tomorrow after an address to the nation. The SLPP with Frm President, SLFP & others will now work to form a broader political coalition with President Sirisena.”
To ensure stability of the nation, Former President @PresRajapaksa has decided to resign from the Premiership tomorrow after an address to the nation. The SLPP with Frm President, SLFP & others will now work to form a broader political coalition with President Sirisena.
— Namal Rajapaksa (@RajapaksaNamal) December 14, 2018
Political turmoil ensued in the island nation after President Maithripala Sirisena, on October 26 abruptly sacked then-Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and instated Rajapaksa, the country’s former President, as the new premier.
President Sirisena later dissolved Parliament, almost 20 months before its term was to end, and ordered a snap election.
However, the country’s Supreme Court overturned Sirisena’s decision to dissolve Parliament and halted the preparations for snap polls.
On December 3, Sri Lankan court had issued an interim order against Rajapaksa and his cabinet, barring their functioning. The following day, Rajapaksa filed an appeal against the order.