Sri Lankan lawmakers propose cutting expenses of disputed PM
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lankan lawmakers submitted a motion Monday to suspend the expenses of disputed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who has lost two no-confidence motions in Parliament amid an ongoing political crisis.
A lawmaker from the Marxist Peoples’ Liberation Front, which is opposed to Rajapaksa, said last week’s passing of the no-confidence motions meant that Rajapaksa’s office and the government had ceased to exist and therefore have no power to spend public money.
The lawmaker, Anura Dissanayaka, said Parliament has power over public finances and it was on that basis that Monday’s motion was submitted. The vote is to take place Nov. 29.
Sri Lanka has been in crisis since Oct. 26, when President Maithripala Sirisena abruptly fired Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and appointed Rajapaksa, a former president. Wickremesinghe has said he still has the support of a majority in Parliament.