Tight security as Sri Lanka court hears crucial case

COLOMBO, Nov 13 (AFP): Elite police commandos were on guard outside Sri Lanka's Supreme Court on Tuesday as judges deliberated whether a shock call for early elections was constitutional, more than two weeks into the island nation's political crisis.

President Maithripala Sirisena Friday dissolved parliament and called snap elections for January 5, two weeks after firing the prime minister.

The moves sparked international alarm and supporters of the sacked premier as well as a member of the election commission on Monday filed legal challenges.

"We have several units of the STF (Special Task Force) reinforcing hundreds of constables," a senior police official told AFP. "We fear clashes between supporters of rival parties."

On Monday dozens of people booed a legislator loyal to Sirisena as he arrived at the court complex, prompting police to declare the site out of bounds on Tuesday.

Sirisena's opponents want the three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Nalin Perera to declare the president's actions null and void. But the court was set initially to decide whether it will proceed with the case.