Sri Lanka: After No-Confidence Vote, Speaker Says Sacking Ex-PM Was 'Non-Violent Coup

On Wednesday, Sri Lanka was pushed further into turmoil following a no-confidence ruling against newly appointed Prime Minister (PM) Mahinda Rajapaksa.

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“The (no-confidence) motion was taken to vote by voice on the floor and it had a majority support. Now we are going to sign the papers,” R. Sambanthan, leader of an opposition group, told Reuters. 

In contrast, allies of the prime minister voiced displeasure, shouting “this is illegal” and also forthrightly rejected the court’s decision.

The country’s Supreme Court dismissed a decree to dissolve parliament and hold fresh elections. Rajapaksa and his son Namal, who is a member of parliament, walked out of the chamber before the vote and subsequent decision.

“We can’t do that. If the speaker wants to select a prime minister, then he can show 113 votes to the president and ask for it,” the junior Rajapaksa remarked.

The majority of a 225-member assembly supported the motion against the elder Rajapaksa.

The parliamentary speaker declared that the sacking of the former PM in favor of Rajapaksa was a non-violent coup d’etat. "The ayes have it," the speaker announced. "I rule that this House does not have confidence in the government (of Rajapaksa)."

Sri Lanka began a descent into chaos after President Maithripala Sirisena dissolved parliament and replaced then-Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe with Rajapaksa, last month.

Rajapaksa is largely viewed as a hero for resolving a decades-long conflict with Tamil rebels. But, the leader has also been accused of human rights atrocities during the war, which he denies.