2015 alleged Sri Lankan coup attempt

none 2015 alleged Sri Lankan coup d'état attempt 2015 Sri Lankan presidential election 9 January 2015 Sri Lanka Coup aborted Rajapaksa Loyalists Sri Lanka Government of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa Maithripala Sirisena None In 2015 a coup d'état was allegedly attempted in Sri Lanka by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa in order to remain in power after he had been voted out in the 2015 Sri Lankan presidential election. Rajapaksa, who was expected to easily win a third term in office lost to Maithripala Sirisena, a former ally and member of the Rajapaksa administration.Associated Press Sri Lanka to investigate alleged coup attempt by former president https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/11/sri-lanka-new-government-investigate-alleged-coup-maithripala-sirisena-mahinda-rajapaksa The Guardian 16 January 2020 11 January 2015 Though ultimately there was a peaceful transition between governments, some government officials claim Rajapaksa made an attempt to deploy the army and police to stop the counting of votes when initial results showed he was heading for defeat.Did Sri Lanka's former president try to stage a coup to keep power? https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/sri-lanka-election-attempted-coup-by-former-president-mahinda-rajapaska-to-be-investigated-9971086.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/sri-lanka-election-attempted-coup-by-former-president-mahinda-rajapaska-to-be-investigated-9971086.html 2022-05-01 subscription live The Independent en 11 January 2015 Background The presidency of Mahinda Rajapaksa, from 2005 to 2015 was an increasingly authoritarian regimeThe Guardian view on the end of the Rajapaksa era in Sri Lanka Editorial https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/11/guardian-view-on-end-of-rajapaksa-era-sri-lanka-sirisena The Guardian 10 November 2018 11 January 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20180912212923/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/11/guardian-view-on-end-of-rajapaksa-era-sri-lanka-sirisena 12 September 2018 live characterised by the diminishing human rights in the country, nepotism, weakening of government institutions, slow progress of national reconciliation in the aftermath of the Sri Lankan Civil War, and controversial ties to China. In September 2010 Parliament, which was controlled by Rajapaksa's UPFA, passed the eighteenth amendment to the constitution, removing the two term limit on presidents, allowing Rajapaksa to run for a third term.Sri Lanka MPs vote in sweeping powers for president https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11225723 BBC News 8 September 2010 There was speculation in mid-2014 that Rajapaksa would call another early presidential election: on 20 October 2014 Minister of Mass Media and Information Keheliya Rambukwella confirmed that the election would be held in January 2015.Warnakulasuriya Deepal Presidential Election due in January-2015 http://www.nation.lk/edition/breaking-news/item/34431-presidential-election-due-in-january-2015.html The Nation (Sri Lanka) 20 October 2014 20 October 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141022035739/http://www.nation.lk/edition/breaking-news/item/34431-presidential-election-due-in-january-2015.html 22 October 2014 deadPresidential poll in January confirmed http://sundaytimes.lk/news/presidential-poll-january-confirmed.html The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka) 20 October 2014 20 October 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141020212344/http://sundaytimes.lk/news/presidential-poll-january-confirmed.html 20 October 2014 dead On 20 November 2014 Rajapaksa issued a proclamation calling for a presidential election at which he would seek re-election.PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Proclamations, & c., by the President BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT Proclamation The Sri Lanka Gazette 20 November 2014 1889/31 http://www.documents.gov.lk/Extgzt/2014/PDF/Nov/1889_31/1889_31%28E%29.pdf 21 November 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141129153158/http://www.documents.gov.lk/Extgzt/2014/PDF/Nov/1889_31/1889_31%28E%29.pdf 29 November 2014 deadParussini Gabriele Sri Lankan President Calls for Early Elections https://online.wsj.com/articles/sri-lankan-president-calls-for-early-elections-1416490072 The Wall Street Journal 20 November 2014Mallawarachi Bharatha Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa calls snap election amid row over his wide-ranging powers https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/sri-lankan-president-mahinda-rajapaksa-calls-snap-election-amid-row-over-his-wideranging-powers-9874094.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/sri-lankan-president-mahinda-rajapaksa-calls-snap-election-amid-row-over-his-wideranging-powers-9874094.html 2022-05-01 subscription The Independent Associated Press 20 November 2014 The following day election commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya announced that nominations would be taken on 8 December 2014 and that the election would be held on 8 January 2015.SL presidential election to be held on January 08, 2015 http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=37496 TamilNet 21 November 2014Presidential poll Jan. 8; Nominations on Dec. 8 http://www.dailymirror.lk/57111/presidential-polls-jan-8-nominations-on-dec-8 The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) 21 November 2014 In response to the degrading democracy in the country, the United National Party (UNP), along with several other parties and civil organisations, signed a Memorandum of Understanding and decided to field the then Secretary General of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), Maithripala Sirisena, as the Common Candidate for the 2015 Presidential Election. Sirisena, a former health minister under Rajapaksa, pledged to appoint UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister if he were to win the election.Abi-Habib Maria Bastians Dharisha Sri Lanka Faces Constitutional Crisis as President Unseats Prime Minister The New York Times 26 October 2018 https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/26/world/asia/sri-lanka-political-crisis.html 31 October 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181101015327/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/26/world/asia/sri-lanka-political-crisis.html 1 November 2018 live Sirisena was declared the winner after receiving 51.28% of all votes cast compared to Rajapaksa's 47.58%.Ben Doherty Munk David Sri Lanka election: president Mahinda Rajapaksa concedes defeat — live https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2015/jan/09/sri-lanka-election-president-mahinda-rajapaksa-concedes-defeat-live The Guardian 9 January 2015Sundarji Padma Rao Jacob Jayanth Jacob Mighty Rajapaksa stunned, Sirisena is new Lanka Prez http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/mahinda-rajapaksa-concedes-election-defeat-official/article1-1304846.aspx https://web.archive.org/web/20150109053413/http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/mahinda-rajapaksa-concedes-election-defeat-official/article1-1304846.aspx dead January 9, 2015 Hindustan Times 9 January 2015 The result was generally seen as an upset.Sri Lanka's Rajapaksa suffers shock election defeat https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-30738671 BBC News 9 January 2015Koutsoukis Jason Sri Lanka election: shock result as president Mahinda Rajapaksa is tossed out https://www.smh.com.au/world/sri-lanka-election-shock-result-as-president-mahinda-rajapaksa-is-tossed-out-20150109-12l7nx.html The Sydney Morning Herald 10 January 2015Pasricha Anjana Sri Lanka Swears In New President https://www.voanews.com/a/sri-lankan-president-concedes-defeat/2591469.html Voice of America 9 January 2015 9 January 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112106/http://www.voanews.com/content/sri-lankan-president-concedes-defeat/2591469.html 4 March 2016 live When Rajapaksa called the election in November 2014 he had looked certain to win.Hume Tim Athas Iqbal Iqbal Athas Sri Lanka's Mahinda Rajapaksa concedes defeat in presidential elections https://edition.cnn.com/2015/01/08/asia/sri-lanka-elections-walkup/ CNN 9 January 2015Kumar Nikhil Sri Lanka Looks to Chart a New Course After Ousting Mahinda Rajapaksa https://time.com/3661134/sri-lanka-elections-maithripala-sirisena-mahinda-rajapaksa/ Time 9 January 2015Sri Lanka election winner Sirisena pledges to reform the state https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/01/09/asia-pacific/politics-diplomacy-asia-pacific/sri-lanka-election-winner-sirisena-pledges-reform-state-abolishing-presidency-strengthening-parliament/ The Japan Times 9 January 2015 Plot Athuraliye Rathana Thero and senior figures in the Sirisena campaign, MPs Rajitha Senaratne and Mangala Samaraweera, allege Mahinda Rajapaksa attempted to stage a coup in order to stay in power when it became clear he was going to lose the election.South Asia Sri Lanka to probe Rajapaksa 'coup' attempt https://www.aljazeera.com/news/southasia/2015/01/sri-lanka-rajapaksa-coup-attempt-2015111836468689.html Al Jazeera Agence France-Presse 11 January 2015Mallawarachi Bharatha Sri Lanka to Probe Alleged Coup Attempt by Ex-President https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/sri-lanka-probe-alleged-coup-attempt-president-28146161 ABC News Associated Press 11 January 2015 According to Athuraliye Rathana Thero, Rajapaksa attempted a coup d'état hours after the announcement of the election results."Army Refused Last Minute Orders To Deploy Troops In Capital City" – Rajitha http://www.asianmirror.lk/news/item/6378-army-refused-last-minute-orders-to-deploy-troops-in-capital-city-rajitha 10 January 2015 AsiaMirror.lk 10 January 2015 10 January 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150110144118/http://www.asianmirror.lk/news/item/6378-army-refused-last-minute-orders-to-deploy-troops-in-capital-city-rajitha deadArmy refused orders to deploy in Colombo- Rajitha http://www.colombopost.net/more-political-news/item/475-army-refused-orders-to-deploy-in-colombo-rajitha 10 January 2015 10 January 2015 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150110135159/http://www.colombopost.net/more-political-news/item/475-army-refused-orders-to-deploy-in-colombo-rajitha 10 January 2015 dmy-all They allege that Rajapaksa and his brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Defence Secretary, summoned Commander of the Army Daya Ratnayake, Inspector General of Police Nugagaha Kapalle Illangakoon and Attorney General Yuwanjana Wijayatilake to Temple Trees at around 1am on 9 January 2015.Jayasekera Sandun A. Video: UNP - UPFA trying to destabilise http://www.dailymirror.lk/60955/unp-upfa-trying-to-destabilise The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) 11 January 2015 Rajapaksa allegedly pressured the three officials to deploy troops, annul the election results and declare a state of emergency but they refused.Sri Lanka's new govt to probe Rajapaksa's 'coup' bid https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/south-asia/Sri-Lanka%E2%80%99s-new-govt-to-probe-Rajapaksa%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98coup%E2%80%99-bid/article60332999.ece The Hindu Press Trust of India 11 January 2015Burke Jason Perera Amantha Sri Lanka's new president promises 'no more abductions, no more censorship' https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/10/sri-lanka-president-maithripala-sirisena-promise-change The Guardian 10 January 2015 According to the Colombo Telegraph Rajapaksa also wanted to dissolve parliament.Gota Flees To Maldives By Air Force Plane https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/gota-flees-to-maldives-by-air-force-plane/ Colombo Telegraph 9 January 2015 Unable to convince them, it was only then Rajapaksa decided to concede defeat and summoned Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was slated to be Prime Minister, to assure him of a smooth transition of power.MR Plots To Prevent His Regime's Corruption From Being Revealed https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/mr-plots-to-prevent-his-regimes-corruption-from-being-revealed/ Colombo Telegraph 11 January 2015 Aftermath The Sirisena government launched a probe into the alleged coup by Rajapaksa.Sri Lanka to investigate Rajapaksa 'coup and conspiracy' attempt http://www.dw.de/sri-lanka-to-investigate-rajapaksa-coup-and-conspiracy-attempt/a-18184514 Deutsche Welle 11 January 2015Sri Lanka to investigate 'Rajapaksa coup plot' 12 January 2015 bbc.com https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-30769188 BBC World 11 January 2015 The government argued that Rajapaksa attempted to seize the poll-counting centers when Rajapaksa realised that he was losing the election.UNP – UPFA trying to destabilise http://www.dailymirror.lk/60955/unp-upfa-trying-to-destabilise DailyMirror.lk 11 January 2015 One of the witnesses, the Attorney General, admitted to Criminal Investigation Department the coup attempt made by Rajapaksa. The Attorney General refused to act on behalf of Rajapaksa and many believe the story of an attempt is accurate after Attorney General orders an investigation into this coup.AG tells CID to probe alleged 'coup' plot http://adaderana.lk/news/29440/ag-tells-cid-to-probe-alleged-coup-plot- 16 January 2015 adaderana.lk Former army chief Sarath Fonseka also claims that the Rajapaksa had moved nearly 2,000 troops into Colombo from Northern Province three days before the election results were announced. Fonseka claimed that the troops were ready take action on coup.Fonseka claims 2000 troops sent http://colombogazette.com/2015/01/16/fonseka-claims-2000-troops-sent/ Colombo Gazette 16 January 2015 dead https://archive.today/20150118191442/http://colombogazette.com/2015/01/16/fonseka-claims-2000-troops-sent/ 18 January 2015 dmy-all However the cabinet spokesperson of the new government stated, during a press conference held on 24 March 2015, that there was no evidence to prove that such a coup was attempted during the night of the election.ජනවාරි 8 දා කුමන්ත්‍රණයක්‌ සිදුවූ බවට තහවුරු වී නෑ http://www.divaina.com/2015/03/25/news13.html Divaina 24 March 2015 A spokesman for Rajapaksa has denied the allegations as baseless.Sri Lanka's Rajapaksa 'sought army help after poll defeat' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-30763699 BBC News 1 January 2015Aneez Shihar Sri Lanka army defied order to keep Mahinda Rajapaksa in power, says aid https://www.smh.com.au/world/sri-lanka-army-defied-order-to-keep-mahinda-rajapaksa-in-power-says-aide-20150111-12lsns.html The Sydney Morning Herald 11 January 2015 The army and police have also denied the allegations.Fairclough Gordon Rajapaksa Sought Help 'By Force,' Opponents Say https://www.wsj.com/articles/rajapaksa-sought-help-by-force-opponents-say-1420976249 The Wall Street Journal 11 January 2015 See also Sri Lanka to investigate alleged coup attempt by outgoing president 1966 alleged Ceylonese coup d'état attempt 2018 Sri Lankan constitutional crisis, an attempted coup by President Maithripala Sirisena and Mahinda Rajapaksa References 30em Alleged coup d'état attempt Alleged Sri Lankan coup d'état attempt, 2015 Category:Attempted coups d'état in Sri Lanka Category:History of Sri Lanka (1948–present) Sri Lanka, Alleged coup d'état attempt Category:Maithripala Sirisena Category:Mahinda Rajapaksa Sri Lanka, alleged coup d'état attempt, 2015 Category:Prelude to the Aragalaya