Sri Lankan President calls for third vote on no-confidence motion against Prime Minister

COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Sunday called for an all-party meeting to hold a third vote on a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, compounding the political crisis in the country.

Sirisena called the meeting of all party leaders after Rajapaksa, his choice to lead the government, was rejected twice in a few days by a majority vote of no confidence.

A lawmaker loyal to Sirisena told the press that the president had rejected the result of the second vote held on Friday, which could strengthen the role of Ranil Wickremesinghe, who seeks to return to the post of prime minister.

"To rule on the no-confidence motion against the government, the president said that he wanted a vote with a name call or posted electronically," said the office of Sirisena in a statement.

The country's parliament fell into chaos for a second consecutive day last Friday, as lawmakers supporting Rajapaksa threw books, chili paste, bottled water and furniture on the speaker to try to disrupt the censorship vote.

Sirisena's office said all party leaders at Sunday's meeting agreed to set up a disciplined legislature when the proceedings begin on Monday.

Parliament Speaker Kauri Jayasuriya and Anura Kumara Dissanayake, leader of the Marxist party Jana Vimukthi Permian (JIP), did not attend the meeting.

"We believe that refusing to accept the previously passed motion of censure that rejects the appointment of the nominal prime minister and come up with various types of cheap excuses is not appropriate for a president of the day. a country, "said Dissanayake in a letter to Sirisena, a copy of what was seen by Reuters.

At the end of last month, Sirisena replaced and replaced Wickremesinghe by Rajapaksa, plunging the island off the southeast coast of India into political turmoil.

While the parliament is due to meet on Monday, Sirisena seems to have to choose to renew Wickremesinghe, which he has promised not to bring back, or let the crisis worsen.

Wickremesinghe's party said it was ready for a "ground test" in Parliament to prove that it had majority support to the deposed prime minister.

"Mahinda Rajapaksa should (be) tested on the ground. The so-called Prime Minister should show his majority in Parliament and if the decisions of the President are wrong, you can make a motion to cancel these motions, "Lakshman Kiriella, a Wickremesinghe loyalist, told the press.