Sri Lanka’s recently re-elected President Mahinda Rajapaksa is dissolving parliament, clearing the way for early elections, officials say.
Parliament will be dissolved from midnight and official sources say the poll will probably be held on 8 April.
Mr Rajapaksa won a second term in office by a large margin last month, but the outcome was rejected by his main rival, Gen Sarath Fonseka.
Gen Fonseka was detained by security forces on Monday.
Opposition politicians say the government is engaged in a witch-hunt and have called for protests on Wednesday against the arrest.
Full story: Sri Lanka President Rajapaksa dissolves parliament – BBC News