Following final ruling by Supreme Court: Decision on Govt. likely this week

The decision on the Government to be formed will likely be determined this week after the announcement of the final ruling by the Supreme Court following the petitions filed against the Gazette issued by President Maithripala Sirisena to dissolve Parliament, informed political insiders said.

If the Supreme Court determines that the Gazette issued by the President as valid, a temporary caretaker government led by Mahinda Rajapaksa would be in place until the next General Elections. However, if the Supreme Court decides to the contrary, sources said the possibility of forming a multi-party government aimed at ruling for the next one-and-a-half years is being widely discussed among the relevant parties.

It is also reported that in spite of the possible Supreme Court decision on the Gazette, President Sirisena is set to make a decision this week to end the current political impasse in the country. According to sources, the President recently held a series of crucial discussions with Mahinda Rajapaksa and Government stalwarts as well as the United National Party (UNP) and other Opposition parties in Parliament. Mahinda Rajapaksa had also held discussions with a number of opposition party representatives in the past few days.

It is said that Mahinda Rajapaksa and the UNP are making a valiant effort to form a caretaker or stable government in the coming week while both factions have informed President Sirisena of their willingness to do so. Following an analysis of the situation, President Sirisena had stressed the urgent need to form a government in the coming week, to end the political deadlock. Following the Supreme Court’s ruling the final decision on the formation of either a caretaker or multi-party government will be made, the sources said.