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Rival politicians hit the Sri Lankan Parliament hard after the disputed Prime Minister declared that the President did not have the power to remove him by vote.
Key points:
- More than 35 politicians fought, hitting those who had fallen and throwing bottles, books and bins
- Tension has risen since the president did not approve the economic reforms introduced by the deposed prime minister
- Prime Minister replaced insists his dismissal was unconstitutional
The fighting in the chamber took place a day after the adoption of a vote of no confidence against the government of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.
When Parliament reunited again, President Karu Jayasuriya said that the country had no government and that there was no prime minister – nor Mr. Rajapaksa nor his rival, whose ouster was unleashed at the end of October by the president.
Mr. Rajapaksa did not agree and said that a vote should have been taken.
"Such important motions should not be adopted by vote-to-vote," he said.
Mr. Rajapaksa stated that the President did not have the power to dismiss or appoint the Prime Minister and Cabinet members.
He accused Mr Jayasuriya of being biased and representing the position of his party, the United National Party, led by the deposed prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Mr Rajapaksa wants new elections, saying it is the best way to solve the crisis.
Clashes erupted after the opposition called for a vote on Rajapaksa's statement.
Those who supported him gathered in the middle of the House while some ran to the President shouting slogans condemning his behavior.
More than three dozen politicians fought and some of their opponents fell to the ground.
Some of the fighters who were arguing with Mr. Rajapaksa threw bottles of water, books and garbage at the president.
Their opponents tried to protect Mr. Jayasuriya by surrounding him for half an hour.
Sri Lanka has been in turmoil since President Maithripala Sirisena fired Mr. Wickremesinghe last month and replaced him with Mr. Rajapaksa, a strong man for China, and dissolved Parliament.
The former president is considered a hero by a part of the Sinhalese ethnic group for putting an end to a long civil war by crushing the Tamil rebels.
However, his time in power has been tainted with allegations of atrocities of war, corruption and nepotism.
Mr Sirisena also suspended Parliament, apparently leaving Mr Rajapaksa time to garner support.
But Wickremesinghe insisted that his dismissal was unconstitutional.
He refused to leave his official residence and asked that Parliament be summoned to prove that he still had the necessary support.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court suspended Sirisena's decision to dissolve Parliament and hold new elections until next month.
Mr. Wickremesinghe stated that the vote of censure had proved that Mr. Rajapaksa's administration was illegal and not supported by Parliament.
The tensions between Mr Sirisena and Mr Wickremesinghe had been deepening for some time, as the President had not approved the economic reforms put in place by the Prime Minister.
Mr Sirisena also accused Mr Wickremesinghe and another Cabinet member of conspiracy to kill.
Mr. Wickremesinghe has repeatedly denied this complaint.
ABC / AP
Topics:
Government and politics,
world politics,
Sri Lanka
