Political crisis engulfs Sri Lanka

A serious political crisis has engulfed Sri Lanka, after the much-awaited local election in which the ruling coalition of United National Party (led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe) and Sri Lankan Freedom Party (headed by President Maithripala Sirisena) suffered a humiliating defeat against the newly formed Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (supported by ousted former President Mahindra Rajapaksa).

The president and prime minister has personally met to discuss the current political situation in the country, particularly the situation that formed after the sensational local election.

Actually, the unstable alliance of UNP and SLFP was formed to keep the tainted former SLFP leader, who ruled the country during the infamous civil war between Sri Lankan Army and LTTE (Tamil Tigers), away from the positions of power.

Now, the local election has proved that the significance and strength of the anti-Rajpaksa alliance have gradually eroded.

From the new figures emerged after the local election, it is clear that a significant number of Sinhala-Buddhist people now backs the ousted former supremo.

A political observer claims that though UNP and SLFP have not yet taken any tougher measures, they might take some stiffer measures in the near future to sustain in the new political platform which is slowly emerging.

Vignesh. S. G

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