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Sri Lankan leader dissolves Parliament loyal to his predecessor ahead of elections in August

Associated Press
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A Sri Lankan man looks at a newspaper at a stall in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, June 27, 2015. Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena dissolved Parliament loyal to his predecessor and called fresh elections in August in an attempt to consolidate power and carry out his promise of reforms. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) (The Associated Press)

A Sri Lankan Muslim woman walks past a picture framing shop where a portrait of President Maithripala Sirisena is on display in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, June 27, 2015. Sirisena dissolved Parliament loyal to his predecessor and called fresh elections in August in an attempt to consolidate power and carry out his promise of reforms. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) (The Associated Press)

Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena has dissolved the Parliament loyal to his predecessor and called fresh elections.

Sirisena issued the notice midnight Friday announcing the election for the 225-member Parliament for Aug. 17.

After defeating Mahinda Rajapaksa in the January presidential elections, Sirisena faced resistance from lawmakers in implementing his promises for democratic reform.

Sirisena is also keen to secure cooperation of a new parliament ahead of an internal investigation into war crimes allegations in the final stages of the country's civil war.

In March, Sirisena secured postponement of a United Nations report on the alleged atrocities by promising a domestic investigation. The report is expected in September.