COLOMBO, Nov 14, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Sri Lanka’s parliament passed a motion
of no-confidence in the controversially appointed government of Mahinda
Rajapakse Wednesday, a day after the Supreme Court overturned a presidential
decree dissolving the legislature.
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya ruled that a majority of the 225-member assembly
supported the motion against Rajapakse who was made prime minister on October
26 in place of Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The result does not automatically mean that Wickremesinghe, who had refused
to leave the prime minister’s residence, has won the constitutional showdown.
Though his party is the biggest in parliament, President Maithripala
Sirisena, who had backed Rajapakse, retains the power to choose the next
prime minister.
Amid chaotic scenes, Rajapakse, 72, and his legislator son Namal walked out
of the red-carpeted chamber just before the speaker called for a vote.
MPs loyal to Rajapakse attempted to grab the mace, the symbol of authority
of the legislature, to disrupt the vote, but Jayasuriya went ahead.
“The ayes have it,” the Speaker announced over his public address system “I
rule that this House does not have confidence in the government (of
Rajapakse).”
Several Rajapakse ministers came out of parliament accusing the speaker of
violating parliamentary norms by holding the crucial vote against their
wishes.