Sri Lanka’s president dissolves parliament

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has dissolved parliament with effect from Friday midnight, government spokesman told media.

“The president signed a gazette notification dissolving parliament with effect from midnight today,” government spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said.

The government printing department confirmed they have been instructed to print the government gazette pertaining to the dissolution of parliament.

Mr Sirisena’s decision to dissolve parliament came shortly after a spokesman for the United National Party (UNP) said it had formally requested him to do so.