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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/14/sri-lanka-parliament-no-confidence-pm-mahinda-rajapaksa
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| Sri Lanka MPs pass no-confidence vote against disputed PM Rajapaksa | Sri Lanka MPs pass no-confidence vote against disputed PM Rajapaksa |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Sri Lankan lawmakers say they have passed a no-confidence motion against the country’s purported prime minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, effectively removing the controversial leader and his cabinet from their posts. | |
| But Rajapaksa’s allies say they are refusing to recognise the legitimacy of Wednesday’s vote, further deepening the constitutional crisis that has paralysed the government for the past fortnight. | But Rajapaksa’s allies say they are refusing to recognise the legitimacy of Wednesday’s vote, further deepening the constitutional crisis that has paralysed the government for the past fortnight. |
| There were chaotic scenes on the floor of the country’s parliament for the vote on Wednesday morning, with reports Rajapaksa stormed out of the house and that some legislators from his party tried to halt the vote. | There were chaotic scenes on the floor of the country’s parliament for the vote on Wednesday morning, with reports Rajapaksa stormed out of the house and that some legislators from his party tried to halt the vote. |
| Amid shouting, lawmakers say the parliamentary speaker, Karu Jayasuriya, announced he would take a voice vote instead, which he then declared Rajapaksa’s government had lost. | |
| But Namal Rajapaksa, an MP and the purported prime minister’s son, told the Guardian his side did not recognise Wednesday’s vote. “The speaker said over the noise that he wanted us to scream to decide who’s the prime minister,” he said. | But Namal Rajapaksa, an MP and the purported prime minister’s son, told the Guardian his side did not recognise Wednesday’s vote. “The speaker said over the noise that he wanted us to scream to decide who’s the prime minister,” he said. |
| “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.” | “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.” |
| Ranil Wickremesinghe, who the Sri Lankan president, Maithripala Sirisena, has been trying to sack from the prime ministership, said 122 MPs had supported the no-confidence measure in his opponent Rajapaksa. | |
| “If any one wants to challenge the speaker’s decision they can put it to vote,” he said. | “If any one wants to challenge the speaker’s decision they can put it to vote,” he said. |
| Parliament has been adjourned until 10am on Thursday, but there are fears the assembly could be suspended before then. | Parliament has been adjourned until 10am on Thursday, but there are fears the assembly could be suspended before then. |
| At least five MPs who had previous expressed support for Rajapaksa crossed over on Wednesday morning to his opponent, Wickremesinghe. | |
| Footage from outside parliament showed supporters of both sides protesting, separated by a line of riot police. | Footage from outside parliament showed supporters of both sides protesting, separated by a line of riot police. |
| More details soon … | |
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