SIRI LANKA CRISIS SURFING

THE EUROPEAN UNION joined a chorus of international voices demanding an end to Sri Lank's  three-week long crises Friday, saying the island nation's international reputation and investments were at risk.

President Maithripala Sirisena on October 26 sacked Ranil Wickremensighe, prime minister, replacing him with the divisive Mahinda Rajapakse.

Wickremesighe is holed up in his official residence refusing to go, saying his removal would be illegal, while Rajapakse is running a parallel administration from the prime minister's office.

President Sirisena suspended parliament until the following Wednesday as he and Rajapakse try to gather enough support among lawmakers to vote Wickremesighe out, an effort that failed.

The United States, the United Nations and several other countries including Australia have also urged Colombo to end the unprecedented power struggle and restore confidence.

The power struggle on the island of 21 million people has paralysed much of the administration, according to legislators on both sides of the dispute