Lanka's ruling party seeks fresh election

Sri Lanka's minority ruling party urged President Maithripala Sirisena Wednesday to call a snap general election to strengthen its numbers, one day after parliament passed a watered-down political reform package.

The governing United National Party called for the election after the opposition blocked several key reforms, thwarting Sirisena's pledge to return Sri Lanka to a parliamentary-style democracy.

"There is now a necessity for an immediate dissolution of parliament," UNP treasurer Eran Wickramaratne said in a statement.

"The (current) political uncertainly will have dire economic consequences."

"The only way out is for the people to be given the chance to decide (at elections)."