Political crisis in Sri Lanka has deepened as lawmakers clashed in parliament on Thursday morning. Scary scenes were witnessed inside the house as MPs indulged in physical assault and shouting for over 30 minutes.
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa spoke for around 15 minutes insisting that he will not step down and that he has majority in parliament. The UNP members shouted slogans against him and threw random things at him. Soon, Rajapaksa's supporters surrounded him and also approached the well of the house.
The session was concluded after clashes between the MPs worsened the situation and some were reportedly injured. One of the MPs Dilmu Amunugama of Mahinda Rajapaksa's party was seen bleeding. He was immediately taken to the hospital.
Today's session was called by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya after yesterday's chaotic session was adjourned. Tense situation prevailed in the parliament yesterday following the no-faith motion that was taken up against the government and Rajapaksa. The chaotic situation continued today as well.
As the session began at 10am today, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya announced that the house does not recognise a government or an opposition. He then allowed Rajapaksa to speak to the lawmakers.
Rajapaksa requested all 225 parliamentarians to join the government and to go for general elections. The premier requested the opposition to join hands with them. The UNP MPs were soon on their feet and started shouting against Rajapaksa and called on the speaker to not identify him as the PM.
Rajapaksa said, "You can't pass resolutions by just shouting. The previous government was failing. That is why president asked me to take over the government." This particular comment seemed to have irked the UNP MPs who increased their assault against Rajapaksa. “If the UNP remained in office for the remaining year, this country would have been destroyed. That is why the President made the decision,” he said.
Rajapaksa also said that the premiership was not a big deal for him. “I have been prime minister, I have been president—this premiership is not a big deal for me. The speaker allows only parliamentarian Mahinda Rajapaksa to make the speech, not as prime minister,” he said.
Rajapaksa also accused the speaker of being biased towards the UNP. He said the speaker was appointed by the previous government and that his position should be neutral.
After announcing that there would be a price reduction on petrol from midnight today, Rajapaksa ended his speech.
UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella immediately requested a parliament vote by name for the speech delivered by Rajapaksa. Kiriella claimed that the house does not have confidence in Rajapaksa. Refusing to vote on Rajapaksa's speech, group of MPs marched towards the speaker's chair, chanting slogans.
The speaker was attacked by Rajapaksa supporters. Jayasuriya soon left the parliament chamber after things were thrown at him. Several media reports said that the speaker left after a wastepaper basket and some documents were thrown at him.
Soon after, Rajapaksa, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and several MPs, too, left the parliament chamber as the tense situation continued to prevail. Following this the parliament was adjourned. Security was tightened around parliament and ministry offices. Special Task Force personnel have been deployed around the parliamentary complex as well as 32 ministries in Colombo as a precautionary measure, the police said.
