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Parliamentarian Mangala Samaraweera said that a group led by Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the second son of Mahinda Rajapaksa, is offering up to USD 3 million to lure United National Party MPs to form a majority of 113 members in the House. The no confidence motion against Mahinda Rajapaksa, that was passed by a majority in parliament for a second time yesterday, amidst chaotic scenes, is yet to be accepted by Sirisena.


Rajapaksas' have failed to muster the majority since the unconstitutional takeover of government on October 26th and is struggling to find MPs to back their illegal government.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya on Friday (16) announced in parliament that a fresh no-confidence motion on the new government had been passed with a majority vote.

Jayasuriya, for the first time in Sri Lanka's history, entered the floor of the House, protected by hundreds of police personnel and announced the results of the motion. 

Pandemonium reigned in Sri Lanka's Parliament as legislators supporting Mahinda Rajapaksa were trying to prevent the proceedings from taking place. 

The despicable behaviour of these JO MPs were witnessed by many in the diplomatic community who had arrived at parliament to watch today's proceedings.

Sri Lanka Army, continuing the process of releasing non-governmental lands that have been used by the Security Forces in the Wanni region, released land blocks of 56.8 acres in the general area of Mundimurippu jungle area on Wednesday.

These blocks of lands comprised 37.1 acres (one block) and 19.7 acres (separate block) respectovely that were earlier used for security purposes by 20th Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR) troops of the Security Forces Headquarters in Wanni.

Major Induka Wickramasinghe, Commanding Officer 20 SLSR on behalf of the Wanni Commander handed over all necessary documents connected to those land patches to Ms R Kethishwaran, District Secretary for Mullaittivu during a meeting at the Mullaittivu District Secretariat.

Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Army in keeping with the government policy of releasing lands belonging to civilians as directed all SFHQs to ensure such lands be handed back as much as possible.

President Maithripala Sirisena said he would not prorogue Parliament under any circumstances. 

In a tweet, the president urged "all Parliamentarians to uphold principles of democracy parliamentary traditions at all times."

The United National Party (UNP) requested Facebook not to disclose information on selected Facebook users that could be sought by the illegal government that was formed in contravention of the constitution of Sri Lanka.

UNP chairman, parliamentarian Kabir Hashim, in a letter addressed to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerburg today (16), stated that the illegal administration has continued to tighten its control of 'traditional media' and as such, reiterated the importance of social media platforms as it is the only means of communication for civil society, democracy advocates and the public.

Hashim further stated that this illegal government headed by Maithripala Sirisena would possibly inquire from Facebook for information on selected users on geo locations and other identification details of users.

"Mr. Maithripala Sirisena may ask Facebook for information on selected Sri Lankan users that should be rightfully private. It is vital that this information be safeguarded as the current illegal administration will most likely use these in ways which are legally prohibited," he added.

Letter sent to Mark Zuckerberg:

The Party Leaders who supported the No Confidence Motion against the Prime Minister of the purported government yesterday, took part in a special discussion with President Maithripala Sirisena this evening (15). President has reportedly proposed to remove the clause that states ‘the gazette notification issued by the President is unconstitutional’ and to show the majority in the House.  

Political sources reveal that if the Party Leaders are to comply with the proposal that the President has put forward, he is willing to offer the Premiership to a person who shows the majority in the House.

The leaders of political parties including United National Front (UNF) and the leaders of affiliated parties including the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) had participated in a meeting held in the Presidential Secretariat.

However, Political analysts and legal experts are of the view that it will be risky to remove and pass the No Confidence Motion by removing that part in the same Motion brought by the JVP that said “ the gazette notification that was issued by the President is illegal."

Kumara Welgama, a staunch Rajapaksa loyalist and UPFA MP had said that Mahinda Rajapaksa should leave if he doesn't have the backing of the majority of members of the House. 

"If Mahinda Rajapaksa doesn't have 113 MPs, he should leave, that's my opinion. We can stay in the opposition. This is shameful behaviour," Welgama told the BBC.

AFP - Sri Lanka's political crisis descended into farce Thursday with MPs throwing punches and projectiles in parliament, a day after voting the disputed prime minister out of office and leaving the country without a government.

Meanwhile, police said tens of thousands of people took part in a rally in Colombo in support of Ranil Wickremesinghe, whose sacking as prime minister plunged the Indian Ocean nation into turmoil almost three weeks ago.

Aerial view of today's rally in Lipton Roundabout in Colombo

"It was difficult to make out immediately who was hitting whom, but several were hurt, but not seriously," an official in parliament told AFP.

"The speaker adjourned the House till tomorrow (Friday)."

The official said an MP from toppled premier Mahinda Rajapakse's party injured himself trying to rip out the speaker's microphone and had to be taken to hospital with a bleeding hand.

On October 26 President Maithripala Sirisena fired Wickremesinghe as prime minister and replaced him with Rajapakse, Sri Lanka's divisive and seasoned political bruiser.

Two weeks later, Sirisena dissolved the strategically important Indian Ocean nation's parliament and called snap elections for January.

However, these moves were suspended by the Supreme Court on Tuesday pending an investigation. 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.

- No government -

Thursday's routine parliament session, the first since Rajapakse and his disputed administration were deposed, began with the speaker announcing that the country now had no government.

"As of now, there is no prime minister, no cabinet ministers and no government in Sri Lanka," said Karu Jayasuriya, wearing his black and gold robe. "I do not recognise anyone as prime minister."

The vote ousting Rajapakse and the Supreme Court's rulings were a major boost to Wickremesinghe.

The four-time prime minister, popular with Western countries for his economic reforms, had refused to leave his official residence after being fired by the president.

Wickremesinghe's party was also staging a mass rally in the capital later Thursday to demonstrate his public support. Hundreds of supporters were being bussed into Colombo for the rally, party officials said.

- Let's have elections -

Addressing parliament Thursday as an ordinary member, Rajapakse asked the house to end the crisis by holding a national election.
"Let's go for an election. We want an election, a general election," Rajapakse said.

But Wickremesinghe's party immediately moved a resolution rejecting Rajapakse's call and demanded a vote that triggered angry protests from legislators loyal to Rajapakse and Sirisena.

Sirisena, who is vested with constitutional powers to induct a new prime minister and a cabinet of ministers, was yet to take note of Wednesday's no-confidence motion.

On Thursday he accused Jayasuriya of violating legislative traditions, saying the signatures of 122 legislators who opposed Rajapakse had not been certified as genuine and also pointed to a typographical error.

"We don't need to submit signatures to the President. All he has to do is take notice of the resolution passed by parliament. He need not be a proofreader," leftist lawmaker Bimal Ratnayake said.

The president also rejected the position that he did not have the power to sack Wickremesinghe and replace him with Rajapakse.- Unbecoming -

The crisis has alarmed the international community.

Germany's ambassador Joern Rohde‏ tweeted on Thursday that it was a "bad day for democracy in Sri Lanka... reading about throwing objects at the speaker and preventing votes is unbecoming of a democracy."

"There is political and economic instability. Our international image has been badly damaged," Jayasuriya told Sirisena in a letter released to the media.

Sri Lanka’s parliament was intentionally disrupted for a second day, with legislators allied to the disputed prime minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, hurled chairs at police officers and and threw chilli powder at UNP MPs.

UNP MP Gamini Jayawickrama Perera who was on the receiving end of a chilli powder attack.

Despite the violence, the pro-Rajapaksa MPs failed to prevent the assembly from passing a no-confidence motion in his leadership, dismissing his government for the second time this week.

Unlike the previous vote, however, today's motion omitted any reference to misconduct on the part of Sirisena. The change indicates the president could recognise the motion this time and agree to terminate Rajapaksa’s leadership.

As Rajapaksa watched from his chair, his MPs attacked the officers with chairs and books, injuring several of them. Other legislators tipped the Speaker’s ceremonial chair to the ground, damaging it. 

An injured Police officer

After Rajapaksa realised he had been defeated for a second time, he walked out of the chambers as a packed gallery hooted at him.

Former Sri Lankan president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said that she watched the unprecedented commotion in the parliament with concern and regret.

Members of Parliament supporting Mahinda Rajapaksa throw dustbin at Speaker Karu Sirisena on Thursday at Colombo

“I watched with concern and regret the efforts by some Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) members to betray the peoples’ demands for a better Sri Lanka which gained victory on January 8, 2015.”

Stating that the SLFP, together with many other parties and civil society, had built a massive movement to win the struggle for a decent, honest and prosperous Sri Lanka, she expressed regret for the actions of a section of people in the party. 

“It is regretful that some sections of our beloved party finds it fit to betray all our policies and once again join hands with a political group that destroyed fundamental rights, democracy, democratic institutions and built a destructive network of graft and corruption,” she said.

Kumaratunga said that the scenes being played out in the past few weeks within the sacred precincts of the parliament, in government and outside are destroying the peoples’ confidence in democratic institutions so long treasured and safe-guarded by all Sri Lankans.

“The time has come, as never before, for all Sri Lankans who value freedom, democracy and those institutions that uphold them, such as the parliament, the judiciary, an independent police, armed services and public services, to stand up for freedom and good governance in this country, setting aside all personal political pecuniary interests,” she  added.

Kumaratunga also said that the country has reached a dangerous precipice of chaos, anarchy and breakdown of the rule of law and all peoples must unite to bring it back from the brink and recommence the journey towards enlightened governance. (The Week)

Legislators supporting Mahinda Rajapaksa disrupted today's (16) proceedings in Parliament by resorting to violent tactics and sending it to chaos, displaying their uncouth behaviour to the entire world.

Puttalam District MP Arundika Fernando, for the first time in Sri Lanka's history, sat on the Speaker’s chair by force. 

Rajapaksa loyalists were seen chanting obscene slogans in front of the diplomatic community who had visited to watch the day's proceedings.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya had to be brought in with full Police escort to take the no-confidence motion against Mahinda Rajapaksa that was passed by a majority of the members of the House.

Several SLPP MPs were seen taking the Speaker's chair while throwing objects towards the opposition benches.

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka (ICCSL), Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) and The Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WCCI) have called for urgent measures to resolve the constitutional crisis that have destabilized the economy. 

The full statement is as follows;

"We are deeply concerned about the current political situation in the country. It is our view that the executive and the elected representatives have a duty to ensure that decisions are taken with regard for due process and the Rule of Law. The events of the last few weeks have resulted in absolute instability which is a situation that Sri Lanka simply cannot afford. This will no doubt hinder development and have a significantly adverse impact on the social and economic trajectory of our country. It is observed that the entire administration of this country has come to a standstill and the public officers are paralyzed being unable to discharge their functions. The ultimate victims are the people of our country. We recently witnessed the most unacceptable and abusive behavior displayed in the Chamber of the Sri Lanka Parliament. The conduct of some of the elected representatives was both shameful and an embarrassment to our country. We call upon all those responsible to accord the highest priority to national interest and refrain from pursuing any path that will result in an economic downfall which will have an adverse impact on the country and the people. We call for urgent and sensible action."