Siri  

The 72-year-old Mahinda Rajapaksa received the membership of the SLPP on Sunday. The party was launched by his supporters last year. In February this year, the party won two-third of the total 340 seats in the local council polls

The political crisis in the country began when Maithripala Sirisena sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and named former President Mahinda Rajapakse as the premier on October 26. However, Wickremesinghe has refused to leave the official residence

Political turmoil in the island nation was triggered late on October 26 when Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena appointed his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister. It was opposed by Ranil Wickremesinghe, who insists he's still in charge. The two are now set to face off in parliament in a confidence vote.

Former PM Wickremesinghe, who has termed his sacking as unconstitutional, claimed that he is still the legally appointed Prime Minister with parliamentary majority.  

 "No one knew it better than me," said Sirisena, who was the acting defence minister during the last two weeks of the civil war with the LTTE in May, 2009 when the rebels were eventually defeat