Sri Lanka's disputed PM sacked by parliament for second time (VIDEO)


Mahinda Rajapaksa, controversially appointed as the 'prime minister' of Sri Lanka, was stripped of his post by parliament for the second time within two days.

On Friday, a majority of lawmakers in the 225 member assembly backed a no confidence motion against him amidst  violence.

Lawmakers injured

The PM for three weeks, Rajapaksa becomes the man who controversially held the post for the shortest time in the country's political history.

Speaker karu Jayasuriya has conveyed the decision to the president who is yet to officially acknowledge his choice PMs defeat.

Early in the day, parliamentarians loyal to the sacked laid siege to the speakers bench disrupting sittings.

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Chairs, heavy volumes and chilli powder dissolved in water were among projectiles thrown by Rajapaksa loyalists at anti Rajapaksa law makers.

Several MPs who supported the no-confidence motion and policemen were injured.


Vote by voice

The septuagenarian speaker Karu Jayasuriya had to be escorted to the chamber by a ring of policemen.

"Amidst the chaos,with parliament security holding cushions over his head to prevent attacks from projectiles, Speaker @KaruOnline conducted a sitting from a makeshift bench on the aisle of the chamber. His mic worked and the Hansard recorded all of it," tweeted Journalist Darisha Bastian.

Unable to take the vote by name the speaker called for a vote by voice.

"The ayes have it" Speaker Jayasuriya  declared shortly before he adjourned the session till the 19th of November.

A dejected Mahinda Rajapaksa was seen leaving the chamber amidst catcalls from the packed gallery.

Parliamentarians loyal to United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickramasinghe hailed the decision as a milestone in Sri Lanka's democracy and applauded the speaker.

"Despite the violence our brave 77 year old Speaker @KaruOnline and the Mace was escorted to the Chamber by the police. The NCM on the illegal government of Rajapakse was voted on. It was a historic moment where democracy and decency prevailed over authoritarianism," tweeted United National Party MP, Eran Wickramaratne.

'Uphold democracy'

Two days ago, a similar motion backed by a majority was rejected by the executive president.

Following the sacking of Rajapaksa, President Sirisena pledged to allow the parliament to carry on without his intervention.

"I urge all Parliamentarians to uphold principles of democracy parliamentary traditions at all times. I will not prorogue the Parliament under any circumstances," tweeted Sirisena.

He holds the power to appoint the next PM.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that he will nominate another member from Ranil Wickramasinghe's UNP aiming to create an internal rift.

Rajapaksa who was the country's president for a decade ran an administration accused of grave human rights violations including war crimes.

Sirisena, a minister in his government promising justice and reforms defeated him in a bitterly fought election in 2015.☐

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Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka

  • JDS is the Sri Lankan partner organization of international media rights group, Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The launching of this website was made possible by the EU’s European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), of which Reporters Without Borders is a beneficiary.