At least three parliamentarians have now defected from Ranil Wickremesinghe’s United National Party to Mahinda Rajapaksa, as both men vye to control a parliamentary majority and the seat of Sri Lankan prime minister this week. 

Following President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to appoint Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister of Sri Lanka, both he and Wickremesinghe have claimed they control a parliamentary majority.

In a letter to Wickremesinghe on Friday, Sirisena emphasised the importance of article 42(2) of the Sri Lankan Constitution which maintains that “the President shall appoint as Prime Minister the Member of Parliament, who, in the President’s opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of Parliament”. 

Tamil paramilitaries and supporters of Mahinda Rajapaksa took to the streets across the North-East, lighting firecrackers and waving Sri Lankan flags to celebrate his appointment as Sri Lankan prime minister, as others expressed concern for Tamil human rights activists in the region.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka’s former defence secretary accused of leading a military offensive that massacred tens of thousands of Tamils has been reinstated to the government’s highest defence office, according to reports emerging from Colombo.

The Sunday Times reported the appointment came after he liaised with senior police officers about security arrangements for his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was unexpectedly appointed as prime minister on Friday.

Human Rights Watch condemned the appointment of Mahinda Rajapksa as “chilling” expressing serious concern about the former president’s return to high office without justice for past crimes.

In a statement released Saturday, HRW director Brad Adams said, “Rajapaksa’s return to high office without any justice for past crimes raises chilling concerns for human rights in Sri Lanka. The current government's failure to bring justice for victims of war crimes under Rajapaksa government reopens the door for past abusers to return to their terrible practices.”

Mr Adams added,

Leader of the United National Party (UNP) and current Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe met with the ambassadors from the US, UK, EU, India, Japan, China and Australia today in Temple Trees to discuss the current constitutional crisis.

Several countries have issued travel warnings to their citizens over travel to Sri Lanka, following the island’s plunge into political crisis.

The German Embassy in Colombo tweeted:

“Current political developments, together with the nomination of a controversial new PM have increased political tensions. We urgently advise against venturing near political rallies. Gathering in general should be avoided. Violent confrontations cannot be ruled out.”

The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office wrote:

China’s ambassador to Sri Lanka met with both men claiming to be the prime minister of the country, as the constitutional crisis on the island continues.

Cheng Xueyuan, China's ambassador to Sri Lanka, met with Ranil Wickremesinghe in Temple Trees earlier this evening according to reports.

Meanwhile, Mahinda Rajapaksa also tweeted photographs of his meeting with the Chinese ambassador, stating that Xueyuan had come to “convey congratulatory wishes from Chinese President Xi Jinping”.

Sri Lanka’s president Maithripala Sirisena has ordered Ranil Wickremeinsghe’s security detail and transport vehicles to be taken away, according to reports from Colombo.

Current finance minister Mangala Samaraweera, who backs Wickremesinghe's UNP, confirmed that the order to remove vehicles and security detail had been given by the Sri Lankan president earlier today.

One of the leaders of the Joint Opposition Wimal Weerawamsa further added whilst speaking to press, that Ranil will be expected to vacate his Temple Trees residency by 8am on Sunday. 

Several reports of a takeover of Sri Lanka’s oldest major press house have emerged following Mahinda Rajapaksa’s swearing in as prime minister.

Unions loyal to the Mahinda Rajapaksa’s  Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Party (SLPP) seized editorial control of major publications at the press house on Saturday.  Editors of Sundayobservor.lk and dailynews.lk reported that they were forced to leave after ceding editorial control to Rajapaksa loyalists.

The press house, Associated Newspapers of Ceylon also known as Lake House, publishes 3 daily newspapers, 3 weekend newspapers, and 5 weekly newspapers.

The European Union has called for all parties to refrain from violence and act in accordance with Sri Lanka’s constitution.

Responding to the appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister in a statement released on Saturday, the heads of missions said,