Hours after Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and replaced him with former leader Mahinda Rajapakse, he has suspended the South Asian country's parliament.
"The president has prorogued the parliament with effect from 12 noon on Saturday," cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne told reporters.
The move came after Wickremesinghe, who says he remains prime minister, urged the speaker to convene the parliament on Sunday to prove he still retained his parliamentary majority.
Sri Lanka was plunged in a constitutional crisis after Sirisena sacked Wickremesinghe and gave the job to former strongman leader Rajapakse, who was sworn in on Friday night.
Wickremesinghe insisted he had a majority in the 225-member legislature and his sacking was illegal.
More soon.
