Colombo, Nov 9 (newsin.asia) – Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, late on Friday dissolved Parliament amid a severe political crisis which erupted in the island since Oct 26, a gazette notification said.

The notification also said that elections to parliament will be held on January 5, 2019 and the newly elected House will meet on January 17.

The gazette notification said that the President is using his powers under Art 33  read with paragraph 5 of Art 70 and paragraph 2 of Art 62 to dissolve parliament and set dates for fresh elections and the re-assembly of the newly elected parliament.

Art  33 (2) says: The President shall have the power to summon, prorogue and dissolve Parliament. Paragraph (5) of Art 70 says that a Proclamation dissolving Parliament shall fix a date or dates for the election of Members of Parliament, and shall summon the new Parliament to meet on a date not later than three months after the date of such Proclamation.