The UN Chief Urges All Parties To Exercise Restraint In Sri Lanka

The United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has expressed great concern over Sri Lanka's deepening political crisis and called on the country's government to respect democratic values and constitutional provisions and process.

A constitutional crisis has gripped Sri Lanka since President Mathripala Sirisena's sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday, October 26 and appointed former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new Prime Minister.

READ: Sri Lanka Political Crisis Takes Dramatic Twist As Speaker Recognises Ousted Wickremesinghe As Prime Minister In Letter To President Sirisena

A new caretaker government is expected to be sworn in on Monday, October 29.

"Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is following the latest developments in Sri Lanka with great concern. He calls on the Government to respect democratic values and constitutional provisions and process, uphold the rule of law and ensure the safety and security of all Sri Lankans," the Secretary General's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement on Sunday, October 28.

Guterres urged all parties to exercise restraint and address the unfolding situation in a peaceful manner.

Sri Lanka's President Sirisena suspended the national Parliament for two weeks on Saturday, in an effort to build support for his decision to remove Wickremesinghe as the country's Prime Minister following months of disagreement.

READ: Amid Turmoil, Sri Lankan President Sirisena Suspends Parliament After Axed PM Wickremesinghe Calls For Floor Test

Many Members of Parliament and Government Ministers denounced the move as unconstitutional and Sirisena swore in Rajapaksa as the new prime minister. In the midst of the crisis, a man was killed allegedly by a politician's bodyguard, who reportedly fired on a crowd of demonstrators.

The shootout which occurred on Sunday, October 28 came amidst street protests which erupted, resulting in a crowd blocking one of the now-sacked cabinet ministers, from entering his office.

Suspended prime minister Wickramasinghe is refusing to accept his dismissal and is appealing for support among Member of Parliaments, arguing that he still commands a parliamentary majority.