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TNA resolves to back no-faith motion against Rajapaksa
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has resolved to vote in support of the no-confidence motion against the Government headed by Mahinda Rajapaksa, who, it says, has been unconstitutionally and illegally appointed as Prime Minister.
The move came as 118 MPs from all parties opposed to the prorogation of the 225 seat Parliament met Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday and reiterated a call to reconvene Parliament by next Wednesday (November 7).
Leaders of the TNA’s constituent parties met on Friday night and resolved that the President did not have the authority to remove a Prime Minister who was in office and, hence, the Gazette notifications declaring that the Prime Minister had been removed and another Prime Minister appointed were unconstitutional and illegal.“Remaining ‘neutral’ in such a situation, would pave the way for achieving an undemocratic end by force,” the TNA said in a statement issued last evening.
The TNA also said it considered the President’s decision to prorogue Parliament as undemocratic and in violation of Parliament’s supremacy.
“The TNA also strongly condemned and opposed the undemocratic efforts to use such delay to bribe Members of Parliament with both money and ministerial posts to induce them to cross over and fraudulently obtain a majority in Parliament,” the statement said
“We strongly oppose and condemn TNA MP S. Viyalendran being a part of this conspiracy. Necessary action will be taken against him immediately,” the statement said.More than 100 MPs gathered at the official residence of Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday and signed a memorandum seeking the reconvening of Parliament by next Wednesday as had been promised by President Maithripala Sirisena.
They told the Speaker that he had the power to reconvene Parliament and he should use those powers whether a gazette notification was issued or not. The delegation quoted Article 33A of the Constitution introduced through the 19th Amendment that states that the President is responsible to Parliament in the discharge of his powers and duties.
However, the Speaker had been non-committal about their request, but said he would give a decision “soon”, former Education Minister and UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam told the Sunday Times last night. This was the second time in two days MPs opposing the suspension of Parliament met the Speaker to ask him to reconvene Parliament.
At yesterday’s meeting most of the members insisted that reconvening of the Parliament should take place, irrespective of whether the President issues a Gazette lifting the prorogation. The Speaker is due to issue an official statement outlining his position today.
On Friday, all party leaders in the camp opposed to President Sirisena’s move also voiced their support to a call to the Speaker to summon Parliament. They put on a show of force when they met in the Committee Room of Parliament and assured him of their support.
The Speaker on Friday said he would await the Gazette notification until last night as the President had promised to reconvene Parliament by November 7.
Meanwhile, the UNP in a statement condemned the announcement that MP Dinesh Gunawardena would be appointed as the Leader of the House. “All such appointments are done with the consensus of all members of Parliament. Making such announcements at a time when the side does not have a majority is against parliamentary democracy as well as convention, the statement said.