Sri Lanka’s disputed PM Mahinda Rajapaksa to step down

Sri Lanka’s strongman leader Mahinda Rajapaksa will step down from his disputed position of the prime minister, his son has said.

Rajapaksa’s legislator son Namal Rajapaksa said he will quit on Saturday “to ensure stability of the nation”.

On Thursday, the country’s Supreme Court declared President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to dissolve the parliament unconstitutional.

A separate court earlier this month ordered that Rajapaksa should not exercise the powers of the office he has claimed since October 26.

Rajapaksa’s decision to quit signals an end to a crippling seven-week long power struggle in the South Asian island nation.

Sri Lanka’s political crisis began in October when Sirisena abruptly sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and appointed Rajapaksa in his place.

More soon…