Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka’s former defence secretary accused of leading a military offensive that massacred tens of thousands of Tamils has been reinstated to the government’s highest defence office, according to reports emerging from Colombo.

Human Rights Watch condemned the appointment of Mahinda Rajapksa as “chilling” expressing serious concern about the former president’s return to high office without justice for past crimes.

Leader of the United National Party (UNP) and current Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe met with the ambassadors from the US, UK, EU, India, Japan, China and Australia today in Temple Trees to discuss the current constitutional crisis.

Several countries have issued travel warnings to their citizens over travel to Sri Lanka, following the island’s plunge into political crisis.

The German Embassy in Colombo tweeted:

“Current political developments, together with the nomination of a controversial new PM have increased political tensions. We urgently advise against venturing near political rallies. Gathering in general should be avoided. Violent confrontations cannot be ruled out.”

China’s ambassador to Sri Lanka met with both men claiming to be the prime minister of the country, as the constitutional crisis on the island continues.

Cheng Xueyuan, China's ambassador to Sri Lanka, met with Ranil Wickremesinghe in Temple Trees earlier this evening according to reports.

Meanwhile, Mahinda Rajapaksa also tweeted photographs of his meeting with the Chinese ambassador, stating that Xueyuan had come to “convey congratulatory wishes from Chinese President Xi Jinping”.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

^{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.