President Maithripala Sirisena installed Sri Lanka's controversial former strongman leader Mahinda Rajapakse as the country's new prime minister yesterday, in a surprise move announced moments after the incumbent premier was sacked plunging the country into constitutional crisis.

Sri Lanka's national airline says it has stopped serving cashews after the country's president flew into a rage over nuts served to him on a flight to Colombo.

President Maithripala Sirisena of Sri Lanka, accepts the resignation letters tendered by 15 SLFP ministers, including six Cabinet members, and the Deputy Speaker, who voted for the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe last week.

Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena says he has lifted a nationwide state of emergency imposed on March 6 after Buddhist-Muslim clashes.