Highly-placed political sources indicate that there is the possibility that Parliament will be prorogued to offer former President Mahinda Rajapaksa more time to orchestrate defections from the United National Party (UNP). 

Yesterday, in a surprise move, former President Rajapaksa was appointed Prime Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena, even while UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe functioned in that position. 

Wickremesinghe rejected the appointments, saying it was unconstitutional staking his claim as incumbent Prime Minister of the country. 

A letter from the President, informing Wickremesinghe of his removal, was released shortly after, to which Wickremesinghe responded briefly in writing, that for as long as he enjoyed the majority in Parliament, as proved during a recent no-confidence motion brought against him, he would continue to be Prime Minister. 

Although Ranil Wickremesinghe showed a clear majority, successfully defeating the no-confidence motion brought against him in April ( 122 voted against, 76 for while 26 refrained,) he would have to prove he still enjoys that majority, in order to retain his post as Prime Minister, as per Article 43.3 of the Constitution, which stipulates that the President is permitted to appoint as Prime Minister the Member of Parliament (in his opinion) most likely to command the confidence of Parliament.

Even with the dramatic exit of the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) minutes prior to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa's appointment as new Prime Minister, the UNP demonstrates a majority in Parliament. This is subject to change however, if the Rajapaksa-SLFP faction can negotiate crossovers from the UNP. 

UNP MPs Vasantha Senanayake and Ananda Alutgamage have already pledged support to Rajapaksa.