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FILE - In this May 7, 2019, file photo, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena smiles during an interview with the Associated Press at his residence in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sirisena has opted not to seek a second term, as officials began accepting nominations Monday for next month’s election. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena, File)

Sri Lanka’s Sirisena exits, with reform promises unfulfilled

By KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press

A Sri Lankan man stands near billboards displaying President Maithripala Sirisena, right, and former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, left, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019. Sri Lanka will hold a presidential election on Nov. 16, the elections office said Wednesday, amid calls for a strong leader to boost national security as the country recovers from deadly Easter Sunday bomb attacks. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka to hold presidential election on Nov. 16

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

Sri Lankan president begins 4-day visit to Cambodia

Associated Press

FILE- In this Oct. 3, 2017, file photo, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, left, and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe attend a special session held to mark the country's seventieth anniversary of the first parliament of democracy, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. A bill to abolish the death penalty has been submitted to Sri Lanka's Parliament, while the president has sanctioned the hanging of four drug convicts. The bill seems to be a move by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to stop the planned executions, which are now stayed by the courts. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena, File)

Bill to end death penalty comes as Sri Lanka plans hangings

By KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press

In this Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018, file photo, Sri Lanka's reinstated Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, center, surrounded by his loyal lawmakers and supporters speaks after assuming duties in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's government has defeated a no-confidence motion in Parliament on Thursday, July 11, that accused it of failing to prevent Easter Sunday bomb attacks that killed more than 250 people. The motion against Wickremesinghe's government was defeated by a vote of 119 lawmakers against the measure to 92 in favor. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena, File)

Sri Lankan government defeats no-confidence motion

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

FILE - In this Tuesday, May 7, 2019 file photo, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena speaks during an interview with the Associated Press at his residence in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court issued a temporary injunction until Oct. 30 against the execution of four people convicted of drug-related offences on Friday, July 5, a week after the country’s president announced that he would end the island nation’s 43-year moratorium on death penalty. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena, File)

Sri Lanka’s top court stays executions until Oct. 30

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

Sri Lankan PM opposes president’s move to hang drug convicts

By KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press

Sri Lanka recruits 2 hangmen ahead of planned execution

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

FILE - In this April 21, 2019 file photo, Sri Lankan Army soldiers secure the area around St. Anthony's Shrine after a blast in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's attorney general advised the acting police chief on Monday, June 24, 2019, to launch a criminal investigation of the former defense secretary over &quot;major lapses&quot; that contributed to security failures ahead of Easter Sunday suicide bombings that killed more than 250 people. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena, File)

Probe advised of ex-defense secretary over Sri Lankan blasts

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

Sri Lanka's Easter Sunday attack survivors attend a holy service at the occasion of reopening of St.Anthony's church, one of the sites that came under attack, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, June 12, 2019. A Sri Lankan lawmaker says a parliamentary committee will continue questioning security and intelligence officials about lapses that preceded Easter Sunday bomb attacks by Islamic extremists, despite objections by the country's president. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Easter attack probe continues despite president’s objection

By KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena smiles during an interview with the Associated Press at his residence in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, May 7, 2019. Sirisena says “99%” of the suspects in Easter Sunday attacks on churches and hotels have been arrested and their explosive materials seized. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

AP Interview: President says Sri Lanka now safe for tourists

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

Soldiers return to their base following an operation searching for explosives and suspects tied to a local group of Islamic State militants in Kalmunai, Sri Lanka, Monday, April 29, 2019. The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka on Monday has urged the government to crack down on Islamic extremists with more vigor &quot;as if on war footing&quot; in the aftermath of the Easter bombings. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)

Sri Lanka lifts social media ban imposed after Easter blasts

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI and KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press

FILE -In this Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, file photo, ousted Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe listens during an interview with the Associated Press at his official residence in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena, File)

Sri Lanka political rivalry seen as factor in Easter blasts

By KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press

EU urges Sri Lanka not to end moratorium on death penalty

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

Sri Lanka urged to halt death penalty plan

Associated Press

FILE- In this Oct. 3, 2017, file photo, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, left, and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe attend a special session held to mark the country's seventieth anniversary of the first parliament of democracy, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sirisena has kept his country’s internal political rift from spilling over to a UN human rights council meeting this week by abandoning plans to oppose his prime minister’s decision to co-sponsor a resolution that would give the island nation more time to address war crime allegations stemming from its long civil war. The co-resolution to be adopted on March 21, 2019 would give Sri Lanka two more years to investigate and prosecute suspects of rights violations. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena, File)

Sri Lanka averts rift spilling over to UN rights session

By KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press

Sri Lanka military teams with police to fight drugs scourge

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

Sri Lanka passes stopgap, plans full budget vote in February

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press

FILE - In this Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018 file photo, Sri Lanka's disputed prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa folds his hands in prayer as he is blessed by a Buddhist monk after signing his resignation paper in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Members of Sri Lanka's Parliament on Tuesday questioned whether Rajapaksa, who recently quit as prime minister, can hold his seat after earlier relinquishing membership in the political party that he represented in the last election. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lankan lawmakers question Rajapaksa’s parliamentary seat

By KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press

Sri Lanka's reinstated prime minister Ranil Wickeremesinghe, center, surrounded by his loyal lawmakers and supporters speaks after assuming duties in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. Sri Lanka's president has reappointed Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister, nearly two months after firing him and setting off weeks of political stalemate. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lankan president doubts he can work with reappointed PM

By KRISHAN FRANCIS - Associated Press