Lanka to hold parliamentary elections in 100 days
Lanka to hold parliamentary elections in 100 days
US vows to work with new leaders
Sri Lanka's new president yesterday announced fresh parliamentary elections two years ahead of schedule and told his new cabinet that the vote would be conducted in 100 days.
Maithripala Sirisena told his new cabinet of 27 ministers inducted yesterday to prepare for a snap election that would be held after he has implemented his ambitious 100-day political reform programme by the end of April.
"Soon after our 100-day programme, we will hold a parliamentary election and remember that this is only an interim government," he said. "Win over those who did not vote for us at the presidential election (last week)."
He axed hundreds of officials and diplomats appointed by his predecessor, a senior aide said yesterday.
"He has asked all political appointees of the former president to resign immediately," said Senaratne, adding politically appointed diplomats had been asked to return to the country.
"We are going to have a cabinet of 29 ministers," Senaratne told AFP.
Sirisena invited all parties to join his cabinet on Sunday, two days after ousting Sri Lanka's longtime leader Mahinda Rajapakse in a surprise election victory.
As he got to work yesterday, Sirisena spoke to top US diplomat John Kerry after pledging to mend ties with the West.
The US secretary of state said Washington wanted to strengthen its relations with Sri Lanka, which soured under Rajapakse.
Senaratne said the new government had secured wide support, including from parties outside the coalition.
The main party representing the country's Tamil minority, who played a significant role in ousting Rajapakse, declined to take any cabinet positions but agreed to support the president, Senaratne said.
Sirisena, who needs a majority in the 225-member assembly to push through ambitious reforms, has moved to strengthen his hold on parliament by securing further defections.
He has pledged to reverse many of the constitutional changes made by the former president, who gave himself huge powers over all key institutions, including the judiciary.