<p class="title">A Sri Lankan court on Monday barred Mahinda Rajapaksa from acting as the Prime Minister, in a major setback to the President Maithripala Sirisena who had installed his former rival in the place of Ranil Wickremesinghe in a controversial decision that triggered a constitutional crisis in the island nation.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Court of Appeal temporary halted Rajapaksa and his Cabinet from functioning in their positions in response to a case filed by 122 legislators against the disputed government.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The court set the hearing of the case for December 12 and 13.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"According to the interim relief, Rajapaksa and his disputed government have been prevented from acting as PM, cabinet and deputy ministers," said a lawyer, who was present at the hearing.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He added that the court was of the opinion that "irreparable damage" could be caused if persons not entitled to do so sit as prime minister and cabinet ministers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">As many as 122 parliamentarians of Wickremesinghe's United National Party, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and Tamil National Alliance last month filed a petition in the Court of Appeal challenging Rajapaksa's authority as the prime minister.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The interim ruling was a major blow to both President Sirisena and Rajapaksa after the former had appointed the latter as the prime minister on October 26, plunging the country into constitutional crisis.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Sirisena later dissolved Parliament, almost 20 months before its term was to end, and ordered a snap election. The Supreme Court overturned Sirisena's decision to dissolve Parliament and halted the preparations for snap polls.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The political crisis has crippled the government for more than a month.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Both Wickremesinghe and Rajapaksa claim to be the prime ministers. Wickremesinghe says his dismissal is invalid because he still holds a majority in the 225-member Parliament.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Prior to the crisis, Wickramasinghe's UNP had the backing of 106 parliamentarians while Rajapaksa and Sirisena combine had 95 seats.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Rajapaksa has, so far, failed to prove his majority in Parliament.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Wickremesinghe, with the support from the main Tamil party, claims to have the support of more than 113 legislators, required for simple majority.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has 16 seats in the house and JVP has six legislators.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The UNF has moved three no trust motions against Rajapaksa, who has refused to step down.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Sri Lankan president has said that due to sharp personal differences with Wickremesinghe he would not reappoint him as the Prime Minister.</p>.<p class="bodytext">However, Wickremesinghe's UNP claims that Sirisena will be left with no choice as he would be the man who will command the confidence in the House.</p>
<p class="title">A Sri Lankan court on Monday barred Mahinda Rajapaksa from acting as the Prime Minister, in a major setback to the President Maithripala Sirisena who had installed his former rival in the place of Ranil Wickremesinghe in a controversial decision that triggered a constitutional crisis in the island nation.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Court of Appeal temporary halted Rajapaksa and his Cabinet from functioning in their positions in response to a case filed by 122 legislators against the disputed government.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The court set the hearing of the case for December 12 and 13.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"According to the interim relief, Rajapaksa and his disputed government have been prevented from acting as PM, cabinet and deputy ministers," said a lawyer, who was present at the hearing.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He added that the court was of the opinion that "irreparable damage" could be caused if persons not entitled to do so sit as prime minister and cabinet ministers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">As many as 122 parliamentarians of Wickremesinghe's United National Party, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and Tamil National Alliance last month filed a petition in the Court of Appeal challenging Rajapaksa's authority as the prime minister.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The interim ruling was a major blow to both President Sirisena and Rajapaksa after the former had appointed the latter as the prime minister on October 26, plunging the country into constitutional crisis.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Sirisena later dissolved Parliament, almost 20 months before its term was to end, and ordered a snap election. The Supreme Court overturned Sirisena's decision to dissolve Parliament and halted the preparations for snap polls.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The political crisis has crippled the government for more than a month.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Both Wickremesinghe and Rajapaksa claim to be the prime ministers. Wickremesinghe says his dismissal is invalid because he still holds a majority in the 225-member Parliament.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Prior to the crisis, Wickramasinghe's UNP had the backing of 106 parliamentarians while Rajapaksa and Sirisena combine had 95 seats.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Rajapaksa has, so far, failed to prove his majority in Parliament.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Wickremesinghe, with the support from the main Tamil party, claims to have the support of more than 113 legislators, required for simple majority.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has 16 seats in the house and JVP has six legislators.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The UNF has moved three no trust motions against Rajapaksa, who has refused to step down.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Sri Lankan president has said that due to sharp personal differences with Wickremesinghe he would not reappoint him as the Prime Minister.</p>.<p class="bodytext">However, Wickremesinghe's UNP claims that Sirisena will be left with no choice as he would be the man who will command the confidence in the House.</p>