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Sri Lanka Parliament Suspended Before Vote
Sri Lanka's president on Wednesday suspended parliament for two months in an apparent bid to save her minority government from defeat in a no-confidence vote, throwing the war-torn country into political limbo.
President Chandrika Kumaratunga, whose Peoples' Alliance coalition lost its majority in the house last month when a key ally defected, also called an August 21 referendum on a new constitution to change the electoral system, a government statement said.
"Parliament was prorogued with effect from midnight July 10 until September 7," said the statement, issued after days of haggling between the government and opposition over when the house would take up the no-confidence vote.
The combined opposition has 116 seats against the government's 109 in the 225-member house, which Kumaratunga cannot dissolve until October 10, one year after it was elected.
A suspension of parliament was expected after Kumaratunga backed down last week on a vote to extend emergency rule, but the referendum caught the opposition by surprise.
"We will challenge this unexpected travesty of democracy on the streets," said Ravi Karunanayake, lawmaker of the main opposition United National Party (UNP).
Analysts said the crisis had grave implications for the country's war-battered economy and a Norwegian peace bid, already stalled over conditions for peace talks.
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