Mahinda Rajapaksa

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Sri Lanka's disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, gestures as he arrives for a meeting with his supporting law makers at the parliamentary complex in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018. Sri Lankan lawmakers have approved a motion barring Rajapaksa from using state funds after he was defeated in a no confidence vote. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lankan lawmakers bar disputed PM from using state funds

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

Sri Lanka lawmakers linked to disputed PM boycott Parliament

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

Sri Lankan president: PM-related investigations to continue

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, right, stands with lawmaker M.A. Sumanthiran in parliament in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Nov. 23, 2018. Lawmakers opposed to disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa won control of a key committee setting Parliament's agenda during a crucial vote on Friday that dealt a severe blow to his government. Sri Lanka has been in political crisis since Oct. 26 when the president abruptly fired Wickremesinghe and appointed Rajapaksa. (AP Photo/Lahiru Harshana)

Rajapaksa critics win control of Sri Lanka Parliament panel

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

Civil society groups and activists hold placards during a protest demanding that democracy be restored in the country as they gather at the Independence Square in Colombo , Sri Lanka, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018. Sri Lanka has been in crisis since Oct. 26, when President Maithripala Sirisena abruptly fired Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and appointed Rajapaksa, a former president. Wickremesinghe has said he still has the support of a majority in Parliament. (AP Photo/Rukmal Gamage)

Sri Lankan lawmakers propose cutting expenses of disputed PM

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

Supporters of the United National Party (UNP) and ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe burn coffins to represent the death of democracy during a protest against the government of disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018. Sri Lanka has been in a crisis since Oct. 26, when President Maithripala Sirisena suddenly fired Wickremesinghe and replaced him with Rajapaksa. Sirisena had also suspended Parliament, apparently to allow Rajapaksa time to gather support among lawmakers. (AP Photo/Rukmal Gamage)

Sri Lanka president rejects no-confidence on disputed PM

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

In this image made from video, Sri Lanka's lawmakers scuffle at the parliament in Colombo, Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018. Rival lawmakers have exchanged blows in Sri Lanka's Parliament as the disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa claimed the speaker had no authority to remove him from office by voice vote. (AP Photo)

Sri Lankan lawmakers fight in Parliament over PM dispute

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

FILE- In this Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, file photo, Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena, right, and his newly appointed prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa wave to supporters during a rally held out side the parliamentary complex in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan is in the midst of a political crisis set off by the president's decisions to remove the South Asian island nation's prime minister, dissolve Parliament and call snap elections. The moves have triggered public protests and international criticism, including from some of the country's biggest donors. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena, file)

AP Explains: The latest in Sri Lanka’s political crisis

By EMILY SCHMALL - Associated Press

Pro- democratic Sri Lankans take part in a candle light vigil demanding the restoration of democracy in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018. The crowd demanded the restoration of democracy after President Maithripala Sirisena dissolved Parliament and called for fresh elections. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

The Latest: Sirisena says he wanted to avoid violence

Associated Press

FILE - In this Nov. 5, 2018, file photo, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, center, waves to supporters during a rally outside the parliamentary complex in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sirisena on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018 dissolved Parliament and called for fresh elections amid a deepening political crisis. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena, File)

Sri Lanka president dissolves Parliament, calls for election

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

A Sri Lankan police officer tries to control supporters of Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and his newly appointed prime minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, during a rally Monday outside the parliamentary complex in Colombo. (Associated Press)

Sri Lanka’s power struggle explained

By THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Sri Lankan civil rights activists hold placards during a demonstration outside the official residence of ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Nov 4, 2018. Ousted Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said Friday there is credible evidence that his replacement is attempting to buy support in Parliament ahead of an expected vote of confidence when it reconvenes. ( AP Photo/Lahiru Harshana)

Tens of thousands march to support new Sri Lanka government

By EMILY SCHMALL and BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

Sri Lankan prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa waves to people after assuming duties as finance minister in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. President Maithripala Sirisena dismissed Ranil Wickremesinghe and his Cabinet on Friday and replaced him with former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa. On Saturday, Sirisena suspended Parliament in an apparent move to give Rajapaksa time to muster enough support to survive any no-confidence vote. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

US weighs in on political crisis in Sri Lanka

By MATTHEW PENNINGTON - Associated Press

A Sri Lankan woman walks past a notice board covered with posters carrying portraits of President Maithripala Sirisena and newly appointed Prime Minster Mahinda Rajapaksa at a street in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Sri Lanka's president suspended Parliament even as the prime minister he fired the previous day claimed he has majority support, adding to a growing political crisis in the South Asian island nation. Posters read &quot; Our respect for the decision took on behalf of the country.&quot; (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Events in Sri Lankan politics leading up to current crisis

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

Sri Lanka's sacked prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe holds a copy of the constitution of Sri Lanka as he attends a media briefing at his official residence in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

AP Explains: How Sri Lanka plunged into political crisis

By KRISHAN FRANCIS AND EMILY SCHMALL - Associated Press

Sri Lankan family follow breaking news in television in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Oct. 26, 2018. Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has sacked the country's prime minister and replaced him with a former strongman, state television said Friday. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka president sacks prime minister, appoints strongman

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

Former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa, center, rides on an open car during an anti government protest in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018. Thousands of Rajapaksa supporters attended a protest organized by a group of opposition law makers condemning the government. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lankan opposition protesters demand government step down

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

In this Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016, photo, Basil Rajapaksa, center, Sri Lanka's former economic affairs minister and brother of Mahinda Rajapaksa, speaks to supporters at the party office of the newly launched Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna or Sri Lanka People's Front party in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Although still an official member of Sri Lanka Freedom Party, the goal of the newly launched Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party is widely expected to resurrect Rajapaksa's fortunes after he lost the Sri Lankan presidency in 2015 in a stunning electoral upset. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka’s former strongman sets stage for comeback attempt

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press