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.
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