SL: Parl blocks move to censure president
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s parliament on Tuesday voted against fast-tracking an opposition move to censure President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Lawmakers voted 119 to 68 against fast-tracking the largely symbolic motion through parliament, which reconvened for the first time since violence flared last week and the prime minister quit.
It is likely to be debated later in the week.
If the motion eventually passes, it could increase the pressure on the president to resign, following his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa who stood down as prime minister in response to the economic crisis that has triggered violent protests.
Earlier in the day, the ruling party was able to push through its candidate for deputy speaker of parliament. The win indicates the president still has the support of many lawmakers despite anger over the nation’s economic tailspin.
The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna’s candidate Ajith Rajapakse won 109 votes in a secret ballot, compared to 78 for the nominee of the main opposition.
The vote also shows the first difference of opinion between the strongman president and Ranil Wickremesinghe, the new prime minister he appointed last week after his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned the post.
The premier wanted the new deputy speaker to be chosen unanimously.
The four-day session of parliament is also expected to discuss the economic crisis.
It comes a day after the prime minister announced plans to sell the national airline to stem losses, part of efforts to stabilise finances even as authorities are forced to print money to pay government salaries.
Wickremesinghe warned the next couple of months will be the “most difficult ones of our lives”.
Ruling party lawmakers arrested over violence
More than a month of predominantly peaceful protests against the government’s handling of the economy turned deadly last week when supporters of then prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa stormed an anti-government protest site in the commercial capital, Colombo.
Days of subsequent clashes between protesters, government supporters and police left nine dead and more than 300 injured.
Police said on Tuesday they had arrested two lawmakers from the Rajapaksas’ Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna in connection with last week’s violence.