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Lawmakers supporting disputed Prime Minister Rajapksa throw a chair towards police officers escorting the speaker inside parliament in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, November 16, 2018. (Photo: AP)

Sri Lankan Parliament adjourned after leaders throw chilli powder, furniture

Brawl occurred day after Speaker announced there is no PM or government following no-confidence motion against disputed PM Rajapaksa.

16 Nov 2018 8:23 PM

Sri Lankan govt confusion after House no-trust in Mahinda Rajapaksa

The Speaker’s office said that the Speaker has requested the President to take the next step under the Constitution.

15 Nov 2018 2:29 AM

Sri Lanka's parliament passed a motion of no-confidence in the controversially appointed government of Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday. (Photo: File | AP)

Sri Lankan parl votes against newly-appointed Rajapaksa govt

Speaker ruled that majority of 225-member assembly supported no-confidence motion against Rajapaksa who was made PM on Oct 26.

14 Nov 2018 11:23 AM

The top court ordered a halt to preparations for snap elections. (Photo: File)

Sri Lanka Supreme Court overturns sacking of Parliament by Prez Sirisena

The decision was the latest dramatic twist in the crisis that has gripped Sri Lanka since Sirisena sacked PM Wickremesinghe.

13 Nov 2018 6:33 PM

Sirisena dissolved Parliament on November 9 and announced snap polls on January 5 next year after it became evident that he did not have enough support in the House. (Photo: File)

Key Lankan parties, EC member move Supreme Court against President Sirisena

Sirisena on Sunday stoutly defended his move to dissolve Parliament, saying it was taken to prevent clashes among rival lawmakers.

12 Nov 2018 3:36 PM

The SLPP was formed last year by Rajapaksa's supporters to create a platform for his re-entry into politics. The party in February's local council election won two-third of the total 340 seats. (Photo: File)

Rajapaksa ends 50-yr association with Sirisena's party, joins newly-formed SLPP

Rajapaksa's move signaled that he would contest snap polls, to be held on Jan 5, under his own party banner and not that of SLFP.

11 Nov 2018 6:57 PM

Sri Lanka's Parliament stands dissolved some 21 months ahead of its schedule in August 2020, amid a worsening Constitutional crisis triggered by the surprise sacking of Wickremesinghe. (Photo: File)

Sri Lanka crisis: Wickremesinghe's party to fight parliament dissolution in court

Sirisena had called for January polls after it was clear Rajapaksa wouldn't command majority in legislature.

10 Nov 2018 7:31 PM

Sirisena signed a decree dismissing the 225-member assembly and scheduled parliamentary elections for January 5, nearly two years ahead of schedule. In a bid to head off any revolt against his action he also suspended parliament. (Photo: File)

Sri Lanka crisis: President Sirisena dissolves parliament, calls for snap polls

Sirisena called for January polls after it was clear Rajapaksa wouldn't command majority in legislature, a move opponents called illegal.

10 Nov 2018 1:20 PM

Sri Lankan Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said he wanted a floor test in parliament to resolve the issue of two prime ministers in the country which arose following the sacking of Ranil Wickremesinghe and replacing him with Mahinda Rajapaksa. (Photo: File | AP)

Sri Lankan Speaker Jayasuriya presses for floor test to resolve political crisis

His remarks come soon after he slammed President Sirisena, saying it was 'anti-democratic' to sack PM Wickremesinghe and suspend Parliament.

08 Nov 2018 11:52 AM

India had been pushing Sri Lanka for the award of an estimated $1 billion contract for a second foreign-operated container terminal in Colombo. (File | ANI)

Behind Sri Lanka's turmoil, a China-India struggle for investments and influence

India can ill afford to ignore the strategic advantage China has gained in Sri Lanka so close to peninsular India.

08 Nov 2018 10:49 AM

Jayasuriya says majority of parliamentarians view the change in PM as unconstitutional and in a letter to diplomats and foreign missions, said some of them were offered bribes and ministerial jobs to support the new government. (Photo: File)

Sri Lanka has suffered 'coup without guns', says Speaker Karu Jayasuriya

The entire matter was pre-planned and the events can only be described as a coup, albeit one without the use of tanks and guns, he said.

07 Nov 2018 1:26 PM

Thousands of loyalists from across the country are camped out at the Temple Trees residence in Colombo, a colonial-era bungalow where Ranil Wickremesinghe has been holed up since his shock dismissal more than a week ago. (Photo: AFP)

Ousted Sri Lankan PM's official home becomes symbol of power struggle

Sirisena sacked Wickremesinghe on October 26 but he has refused to accept the decision or to leave the residence.

04 Nov 2018 2:27 PM

So far, Rajapaksa has 100 MPs on his side while sacked prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has 103 MPs in the 225-member assembly. (Photo: File| AP)

Tamil prisoners may be released to tilt scales in favour of Lanka PM Rajapaksa

Tamils say some of the prisoners have been held over a long time under an anti-terrorism law without even being formally charged.

04 Nov 2018 1:00 PM

69-year-old Wickremesinghe was sacked out-of-the-blue on October 26 by President Maithripala Sirisena, with domineering former president Mahinda Rajapakse named in his place. (Photo: AFP)

Desperate people can start bloodbath, warns ousted Sri Lanka PM Wickremesinghe

Ranil Wickremesinghe warned time is running out to avert a 'bloodbath' while voicing hope that parliament will resolve the situation soon.

03 Nov 2018 12:07 PM

'President has decided to reconvene the parliament on 5th,' Rajapaksa said addressing a meeting at the prime minister’s office. (Photo: File)

Sirisena to reconvene Parl on Nov 5: Sri Lanka's new PM Rajapaksa

Sri Lanka’s president Sirisena named Mahinda Rajapaksa as PM on Friday after abruptly dismissing the government of Ranil Wickremesinghe.

01 Nov 2018 12:01 PM

A mustachioed man usually dressed in a spotless white shirt, sarong and trademark maroon sash, Rajapaksa is seen as a hero by many in Sri Lanka's Buddhist majority. He wears rings as lucky charms, sometimes as many as eight, and he has been called the 'lord of the rings'. (Photo: File)

India worried as Sri Lanka's 'Lord of the rings', pro-China, is back as PM

Rajapaksa has been accused by diplomats of serious human rights abuses in the war against rebels from the Tamil minority.

01 Nov 2018 11:42 AM

Parliament has been suspended since President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Ranil Wickremesinghe as head of government last Friday and nominated former strongarm leader Mahinda Rajapaksa for a spectacular return to frontline politics. (Photo: File)

As Sri Lankan crisis deepens, Minister says China financing horse-trading

A deputy minister in Wickremesinghe's administration, Ranjan Ramanayake, accused China of paying for Rajapaksa to buy legislators.

30 Oct 2018 6:18 PM

Sri Lanka's sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickeremesinghe attends a media briefing in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (Photo | AP)

Sri Lanka braces for protest over PM Wickeremesinghe's sacking

He also suspended parliament in an apparent bid to shore up support for newly appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

30 Oct 2018 12:43 PM

The cricketer-turned-politician was arrested on Monday for the incident at his ministry premises when a petroleum worker died due to shooting by his security staff, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said. (Photo: ANI | Twitter)

Arjuna Ranatunga arrested over fatal shooting in Sri Lanka amid political crisis

One person succumbed to his injuries and two others were hospitalised in the shooting incident.

29 Oct 2018 5:54 PM

Sri Lankan soldiers keep watch outside the ceylon petroleum corporation in Colombo. (Photo: AFP)

Sri Lanka crisis can turn into bloodbath, says Parliament Speaker

'We should settle this through parliament, but if we take it out to the streets, there will be a huge bloodbath,' Jayasuriya said.

29 Oct 2018 3:50 PM

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Bhopinder Singh