Chaos reigns in Sri Lanka Parliament as Mahinda Rajapaksa supporters clash with UNP MPs, threaten Speaker Karu Jayasuriya

Day after the Sri Lankan Parliament passed no confidence motion against recently appointed prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, the situation turned violent inside the House on Thursday as MPs clashed with each other amid allegations of malpractice against the House Speaker, reports said.

Sri Lankan MPs clashed inside Parliament chamber as Political crisis continues, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya announced at beginning of session that the House does not recognise a government or an opposition. pic.twitter.com/mgQKkFhTxG

— Azzam Ameen (@AzzamAmeen) November 15, 2018

Azzam Ameen, a Sri Lanka-based journalist tweeted images and videos of scenes inside the Sri Lankan Parliament where MPs could be seen clashing with each other and hurling waste paper basket at House Speaker Karu Jayasuriya. According to Ameen, several MPs were injured in the clashes that broke out soon after recently appointed prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa gave his speech inside the Parliament.

Sri Lanka Parliament session concludes with ugly scenes after clashes, minor injuries for several MPs, Waste paper basket hurled at Speaker by MP supporting Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa objecting Speakers action pic.twitter.com/5GRl91uiVk

— Azzam Ameen (@AzzamAmeen) November 15, 2018

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According to Sri Lanka-based Daily Mirror, UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella requested a Parliament vote by name for the speech delivered by Rajapaksa. The request, however, was challenged by MPs supporting Rajapaksa with some MPs, according to State Minister of Finance Eran Wickramaratne, physically threatened the speaker and clashed with each other. What followed soon after that was chaos with MPs clashing with each other.

JO MP’s physically threaten speaker @KaruOnline and ask not to proceed with vote. Many scuffles. Speaker stays strong despite hooliganism.We will stand strong for democracy and NOT bow down to threats. - E. W. (2) @officialunp #CoupSL pic.twitter.com/p9PugMw5fR

— Eran Wickramaratne (@EranWick) November 15, 2018

Jayasuriya had said on Thursday that in his view the country did not have a prime minister or Cabinet after Wednesday’s no-confidence vote. The Sri Lankan Parliament is currently divided into two camps — the Rajapaksa camp, which supports the prime ministership of the former Sri Lankan president and is demanding fresh elections as called by the President Maithripala Sirisena, and the UNP camp, which is seeking reinstatement of the Wickremsinghe government. Sirisena had sacked Wickremsinghe and appointed Rajapaksa as the new prime minister in an abrupt decision on 26 October. The decision, however, was tremed unconstitutional by UNP and other supporters of Wickremsinghe, and chaos prevailed with two people claiming to run the government. Meanwhile, Wickremesinghe refused to leave his residence, Temple Trees. Though Sirisena had earlier agreed to convene parliament on 14 November, he dramatically reversed course on 9 November and dissolved the Parliament. Sirisena also announced fresh elections to be held on 5 January. However, both the decisions were challenged in the Supreme Court, which revoked it till it had heard petitions challenging the move as unconstitutional. On Wednesday, when the Parliament reconvened, the Rajapaksa government lost a no confidence motion. The parliament passed the no-confidence motion against Rajapaksa and his government, with the backing of 122 lawmakers from the 225-member legislature. However, Sirisena in a letter to the speaker said he cannot accept the no-confidence vote as the speaker appeared to have ignored the constitution, parliamentary procedure and traditions. Rajapaksa’s party, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), also shared a copy of the letter that the president wrote to Jayasuriya, while also accusing the Speaker of “substituting MPs Attendance List of 2nd November for that of 14th November”.

President Maithripala Sirisena expresses shock at the attempt of deception by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya who has allegedly substituted MPs Attendance List of 2nd November for that of 14th November: rebukes Speaker in a strongly worded letter. #lka pic.twitter.com/Cmr90tvEkn

— SLPP (@PodujanaParty) November 15, 2018

Earlier on Thursday, UNP leaders along with the Speaker had refused to attend a meeting called by the President. With inputs from AP