Thousands of United National Party (UNP) supporters and party members gathered in Colombo today to show their opposition to the replacement of the prime minister and the dissolution of parliament by the president, Maithripala Sirisena.
Protestors marched with coffins carrying effigies of Sirisena and his appointee for prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, which they burnt at the end of the demonstration.
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“We will be taking to the streets once again tomorrow at 3 p.m. at Lipton Circus. The President is continuing to act in an unconstitutional manner, choosing to ignore today’s decision taken in Parliament,” the UNP said.
Sri Lanka descended into political crisis following Sirisena's actions, which the UNP rejects as unconstitutional.
There were violent scenes in parliament today as the Speaker was mobbed and parliament broke down into chaotic violence, with one lawmaker sent to hosiptal.
Mahinda Rajapaksa rejected the no-confidence motion levelled against him and assumed the bench of the Prime Minister in parliament.
Lawmakers hurled items at the speaker and a UNP MP was photographed wielding a knife during the brawl, whilst another was caught showing his middle finger to fellow MPs.
