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).

Britain’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka called for “timely elections” in Sri Lanka, after six out of the nine provincial councils on the island have had their term expire without any new voting.

“Many people will be disappointed that the term in office of a sixth of #SriLanka’s nine Provincial Councils has expired without voting for new representatives taking place or planned,” tweeted James Dauris.

“Timely #elections are key to ensuring that the values of #democracy flourish in our countries,” he added.

The former head of Sri Lanka’s army has spoken out against paying reparations against those “who worked to divide the nation”, indicating that those who supported the LTTE would not receive any compensation.

“LTTE were those who worked to divide the nation by taking up arms,” said the former commander who oversaw the massive military offensive at the final phase of the armed conflict which killed tens of thousands of Tamils. “It is a serious offence according to the Constitution. I don’t approve of paying compensation to them.”

Sri Lanka’s Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka called for the withdrawal of a United Nations resolution, which mandates for a hybrid accountability mechanism for international crimes.

Addressing the Sri Lankan cabinet earlier this week Ranawaka, who heads the Sinhala extremist JHU, reportedly said “the government should also make every effort to replace the current resolution”.

Tamils in the North-East have continued clearing destroyed LTTE cemeteries - thuyilum illams - in preparation for Maaveerar Naal, the Tamil national remembrance day.

The former director of the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) has been arrested today, over allegations that he was involved in a plot to kill current Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena and former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

Deputy Inspector General Nalaka de Silva had been questioned for 5 days by Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) prior to his arrest.

The alleged plot has caused a stir in Colombo, with Sirisena beefing up his personal security detail and reports that he had accused Indian intelligence of involvement.