Sri Lanka’s president Maithripala Sirisena has ordered Ranil Wickremeinsghe’s security detail and transport vehicles to be taken away, according to reports from Colombo.

Current finance minister Mangala Samaraweera, who backs Wickremesinghe's UNP, confirmed that the order to remove vehicles and security detail had been given by the Sri Lankan president earlier today.

One of the leaders of the Joint Opposition Wimal Weerawamsa further added whilst speaking to press, that Ranil will be expected to vacate his Temple Trees residency by 8am on Sunday. 

Several reports of a takeover of Sri Lanka’s oldest major press house have emerged following Mahinda Rajapaksa’s swearing in as prime minister.

Unions loyal to the Mahinda Rajapaksa’s  Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Party (SLPP) seized editorial control of major publications at the press house on Saturday.  Editors of Sundayobservor.lk and dailynews.lk reported that they were forced to leave after ceding editorial control to Rajapaksa loyalists.

The press house, Associated Newspapers of Ceylon also known as Lake House, publishes 3 daily newspapers, 3 weekend newspapers, and 5 weekly newspapers.

The European Union has called for all parties to refrain from violence and act in accordance with Sri Lanka’s constitution.

Responding to the appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister in a statement released on Saturday, the heads of missions said,

Sri Lanka’s president Maithripala Sirisena has suspended parliamentary sittings as ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe looks to prove majority in parliament according to emerging reports.

Sirisena has issued a gazette notification stating that Parliamentary sittings had been prorogued until November 16^th, report news outlets.

Speaking to press the cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said,

“The president has prorogued the parliament with effect from 12 noon Saturday.”

Families of the disappeared marked 600 days of protest in Vavuniya on October 15. 

Mothers and other relatives held a poosai (prayer) in memory of their disappeared loved ones.

In response to the developing situation in Sri Lanka, the US Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs called on all parties in Sri Lanka to refrain from violence and uphold its United Nations comments to human rights, reform, accountability, justice and reconciliation.

Referring to the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution on accountability and justice in Sri Lanka, the state department said,

Reports are emerging from Colombo that Sri Lanka’s top police chief is in discussions with Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brother Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

Sri Lankan President Sirisena’s appointment of Mahinda today as Prime Minister has sparked a constitutional crisis with Ranil Wickremesinghe insisting that he is legally and constitutionally still PM.

According to commentators in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara met with the brothers to discuss the current security situation and a ‘way forward’.

Several other high level police officials are reported to be present at the meeting.

Reports have surfaced that the ITN television station premises in Colombo has been evacuated after Rajapaksa loyalists threatened the deputy general manager of the news and current affairs.

Further reports also emerged that a second TV station Rupavahini has been taken off air in Sri Lanka.

President Maithripala Sirisena has also allegedly ordered military protection to media institutions.

The reports come hours after Sri Lanka’s president swore in former president Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister.

^{Photograph: @HarshadeSilvaMP}

Ranil Wickremsinghe claimed he was still the prime minister of Sri Lanka, just hours after the swearing in of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, as Sri Lanka plunges into a constitutional crisis.

Mahinda Rajapaksa, the former Sri Lankan strongman who led a massive military campaign that saw the deaths of tens of thousands of Tamils, was unexpectedly sworn in as Sri Lanka’s prime minister just hours ago. Wickremsinghe's UNP has reportedly called "all UNP MPs in and around Colombo who could make it to Temple Trees" for an urgent meeting that is currently underway.

Updated GMT 1750

Sri Lankan media have reported that Sri Lanka’s former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, who stands of accused of overseeing war crimes as tens of thousands of Tamils were massacred during 2009, is being sworn in as Sri Lanka’s prime minister.

The swearing in comes just minutes after the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) led by current president Maithripala Sirisena announced they would withdraw from the unity government, which has an alliance with the United National Party (UNP).