Sri Lanka parliament blocks move to condemn president, lawmakers arrested over violence

Anti-government demonstrators shout slogans during a protest demanding to arrest the supporters of the ruling party for storming an anti-government protest camp last week, outside the police headquarters, amid the country's economic crisis, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, May 16, 2022. [Reuters]

Sri Lanka's parliament on Tuesday voted against fast-tracking an opposition move to condemn President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, as the prime minister warned that the country was in a precarious economic situation and down to its last day of petrol supplies.

Lawmakers voted 119 to 68 against fast-tracking the largely symbolic motion through parliament, which reconvened for the first time since violence flared last week and the prime minister quit. It is likely to be debated later in the week.