Sri Lanka's parliament was thrown into chaos on November 14 after a no confidence motion against new Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse was presented to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, which prompted the parliament to be adjourned till November 15.
(Illustrative Image).
A meeting inside the Sri Lankan Parliament.
Following the parliament's adjournment, legislators made
contradictory claims of the results of the no confidence vote.
The no confidence motion on
the new prime minister and the newly elected government was presented by
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) legislator Anura Kumara Dissanayaka and
seconded by JVP legislator Vijitha Herath.
However, when the motion was
taken up for a vote, legislators from Rajapakse's party broke out in protest,
prompting the prime minister to leave the floor of the House.
Lakshman Kiriella, legislator
from the United National Party led by sacked Prime Minister Ranil
Wickremesinghe, told journalists following the adjournment that the no
confidence vote had been passed with a majority and the new prime minister and
government would cease to exist.
"We have the majority
and the proper parliamentary procedures were followed. The new government is no
more. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will once again be the prime minister
of the nation," Kiriella said.
However, Sri Lanka Podujana
Peramuna legislator Dinesh Gunawardena said the vote had not been passed as the
parliament speaker had not followed normal parliamentary traditions by calling
for an electronic vote.
Sri Lanka has been embroiled
in a political turmoil since October 26, when President Maithripala Sirisena
surprisingly sacked his prime minister Wickremesinghe and appointed former
president Rajapakse to the post.
Sirisena who was supposed to address the parliament on
November 14 remained absent.
Source: NDO
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