Lanka heads for snap polls

Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday ordered the immediate dismissal of the parliament, a government spokesman said, clearing the way for a snap election 10 months ahead of schedule.

"The President signed a gazette notification a short while ago dissolving parliament with effect from midnight today," the government spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said.

The election will be held on August 17 and the new parliament convened on September 2, officials told AFP.

Sirisena inherited the outgoing parliament from his autocratic predecessor Rajapakse who still controlled a loyal band of lawmakers who repeatedly blocked reforms pushed by the new government.

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera told reporters Wednesday that the UNP government favoured a snap election to increase its majority.