Sri Lanka crisis: MPs exchange blows during Parliament session
COLOMBO: Rival lawmakers exchanged blows in Sri Lanka’s Parliament on Thursday as disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa claimed the speaker had no authority to remove him from office by voice vote.
The fighting in the chamber came a day after it passed a no-confidence vote against Rajapaksa’s government.
When Parliament re-convened, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said the country had no government and there was no prime minister — either Rajapaksa or his rival whose ousting in late October by the president started the crisis.
Rajapaksa disagreed, saying, “A vote should have been taken. Such important motions should not be passed by a voice vote.”
He added that Jayasuriya has no power to remove or appoint the prime minister and Cabinet members.
He accused the speaker of being partial and representing the position of his party, the United National Party, which is led by ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Rajapaksa also called for fresh elections, suggesting that it was the best way to resolve the crisis.
The brawl erupted after the opposition asked for a vote on Rajapaksa’s statement, with lawmakers supporting him gathering in the middle of the house while some ran toward the speaker shouting slogans condemning his behavior.
More than 50 lawmakers in the 225-member house fought and some who fell on the floor were kicked by rivals.
Some of the lawmakers supporting Rajapaksa threw water bottles, books and trash cans at the speaker.
Dilum Amunugama, an ally of Rajapaksa, was taken to a hospital with injuries to his hand.