Sri Lanka crisis: Rajapaksa says his appointment is legitimate

Sri Lanka’s new prime minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, has told Al Jazeera that his appointment is legitimate and that he is now getting on with the job.

The two-time former president was controversially appointed a week ago after his successor Maithripala Sirisena sacked Ranil Wickremesinghe as the prime minister.

Critics say Wickremesinghe’s dismissal is unconstitutional because parliament should have decided his fate.

MPs are expected to be recalled next week to vote on the leadership change.

 

Al Jazeera’s Bernard Smith reports from Colombo.