Sri Lanka's parliament dissolved

India seals nuclear energy deal with Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka's President Mithripala Sirisena (C) shakes hands with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) as Sirisena's wife Jayanthi Sirisena looks on at the forecourt of India's presidential palace in New Delhi on 16 February. Reuters

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has dissolved parliament, paving the way for an early general election.

"The president signed a gazette notification dissolving parliament with effect from midnight today," government spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said, according to the BBC.

The general elections was not scheduled to be held for another 10 months.

The United National Party had formally requested that parliament be dissolved, a spokesman for the party said. The party's leader Ranil Wickremesingha is Sri Lanka's prime minister.

The BBC said the election will be held on 17 August, according to government sources.

Sri Lankan election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya is scheduled to hold a news conference today (27 June) where he will announce the election dates.