Sri Lankan police escort Jayasuriya (centre holding microphone) as aides hold up cushions to protect him and themselves from projectiles thrown by rival legislators in the assembly hall in Colombo. — AFP photo
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s parliamentary speaker had to be escorted into the chamber ringed by police yesterday as violence broke out for a second day, with lawmakers throwing chilli powder and furniture in the melee between rival factions in the island’s constitutional crisis.
The Indian Ocean nation has been paralysed since Oct 26 when President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Ranil Wickremesinghe as premier and replaced him with former strongman Mahinda Rajapakse.
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya was blocked from taking his chair for almost an hour by a group of legislators and was only able to take his place after he entered the assembly ringed by unarmed officers and parliamentary staff.
Wickremesinghe (centre) leaves parliament escorted by security personnel and aides in Colombo. — AFP photo
They then tried to shield Jayasuriya as supporters of Mahinda Rajapakse, who lost a vote of no confidence as prime minister on Wednesday, pelted him with books and stationery.
MPs broke furniture and attacked officers and some Rajapakse loyalists were also seen throwing chilli powder at rival legislators and police.
Gamini Jayawickrema Perera, a legislator from ousted prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s party, said chili mixed water was thrown at his face and he later required treatment in the parliament’s medical centre.
On Thursday punches were thrown in parliament, deepening international concern with the German ambassador to the island nation saying it was ‘unbecoming of a democracy’.
Day-to-day administration in Sri Lanka remains paralysed as the crisis drags on.
Parliament reconvened on Wednesday and lawmakers approved a motion of no-confidence in what they called Rajapakse’s ‘purported’ cabinet, also passing motions declaring Sirisena’s moves illegal.
Sirisena on Thursday asked parliament to amend and re-submit the no confidence motion.
On Thursday, MPs moved another resolution against Rajapakse, this time to reject his call for snap elections.
Speaker Jayasuriya said he will reconvene parliament on Monday for routine business. — AFP