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Rajapaksa hopes Sirisena will back no-confidence motion against PM

Press Trust of India  |  Colombo 

Sri Lanka's former has expressed hope that incumbent - who was responsible for his ouster in 2015 - will support a no-confidence motion backed by the against

The motion scheduled for April 4 was handed over to by the last week against Wickremesinghe, accusing him of financial mismanagement and failing to tackle anti-Muslim riots early this month in the central district.

"It is now up to the (Sirisena) to ensure the victory of the motion by getting his members to support it," Rajapaksa told reporters.

The Freedom Party (SLFP) which is part of the unity government with Wickremesinghe is yet to decide on the way they will vote on the motion.

Wickremesinghe, 68, had resisted a call from Sirisena to resign following a crushing defeat to Rajapaksa's new party People's Front in the February 10 local

It is no secret that Sirisena wants Wickremesinghe's ouster so that he could replace him with his own choice.

Wickremesinghe was recently replaced as after clashes erupted in the district. Last week, the also removed key institutions, including the Central Bank, from the control of Wickremesinghe.

Sirisena in 2015 quit the to join hands with Wickremesinghe, the then main opposition leader, to defeat Rajapaksa in the ending his 10-year rule.

Rajapaksa said if Wickremesinghe were to be defeated in the motion on April 4, the would press Sirisena to dissolve parliament to hold a fresh for parliament.

Constitutionally, the current parliament could not be dissolved before February 2020. It requires a motion adopted with 2/3rds in the 225 member assembly to call for snap elections.

Rajapaksa is constitutionally barred from contesting for the for a third time. However, he can become the

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Sun, April 01 2018. 13:30 IST
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