The man at the centre of Sri Lanka’s political crisis has told the BBC he has the support of parliament and will not leave the grand mansion reserved for the island nation’s prime minister.
Last week the president sacked PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and his cabinet and suspended parliament, appointing former leader Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new PM.
But Mr Wickremesinghe says the move is illegal and will not leave office.
The crisis has already sparked protests and deadly violence.
The situation is being closely watched by regional rivals India and China, who are vying for influence in Sri Lanka. Washington has called for parliament to be convened as soon as possible.
“I still remain the prime minister and I have the confidence of the majority of members of this house,” Mr Wickremesinghe told the BBC from his official residence, Temple Trees, a grand, white, colonial-era bungalow, which has, over time, become a symbol of political power in Sri Lanka. Read more