What's behind Sri Lanka's political crisis?

In Sri Lanka, a political crisis is unfolding.

President Maithripala Sirisena has suspended parliament and sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his cabinet. Mr Sirisena has appointed the man he defeated in the 2015 presidential election - former President Mahinda Rajapaksa - as the new PM.

But Mr Wickremesinghe is refusing to leave, saying the move is illegitimate. And the speaker of parliament has warned the crisis could plunge the country into "a bloodbath."

So what's caused the crisis - and who is actually running the country? Charu Lata Hogg, associate fellow at Chatham House's South Asia programme, explains.

(Photo: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena. Credit: Getty Images)