Sri Lanka’s first national unity government in trouble

Sri Lanka’s first national unity government in trouble

Context:

Sri Lankan first national unity government is in trouble

What has happened?

• Sri Lankan President and PM have failed to reach consensus on the future of their coalition government, following the huge defeat their parties has suffered in the recent local government elections.
• They have decided to set up a committee to chart out the next steps and “reform proposals” for their cohabitation government.
• While the two parties tried reaching an agreement, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe came under pressure to resign
• Amid the political developments, Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka met President Sirisena and PM Wickremesinghe in separate meetings to discuss bilateral issues

Background:

• Mr. Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP) and the Sirisena-led faction of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), its traditional rival, have been in government together since 2015
• They had jointly ousted former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a historic election
• The other faction of the SLFP supports Mr. Rajapaksa and sits in the Opposition.
• In the February 10 local government polls, the partners in national government contested separately and lost to the newly formed party, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), or Sri Lanka People’s Front backed by Mr. Rajapaksa