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Four of the six political parties represented in Parliament this week once again demonstrated in no uncertain terms that they together command the majority in Parliament, with President Maithripala Sirisena’s Prime Ministerial appointee MP Mahinda Rajapaksa and the UPFA remaining short of a simple majority of 113 MPs which they need to give legitimacy to their claim that they are the government.

In two separate votes, taken on Thursday and Friday, two motions were approved by the House with 123 voting for the first one preventing the Secretary to the Prime Minister disbursing state funds while 122 MPs voted for the second motion on Friday, preventing secretaries to all ministers from disbursing state funds.

The parties in Parliament that have stood firm against President Sirisena’s actions include the United National Party (UNP), Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC).

The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and the lone member of Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) who have taken upon themselves the role of government decided to boycott sittings this week saying they had no faith in Speaker Karu Jayasuriya accusing him of carrying on the business of Parliament as if it was the UNP headquarters Sirikotha. But the obvious reason they stayed away was due to their inability to garner the support of 113 MPs to show a majority in the House.

Also, after the ugly scenes in Parliament the previous week when a group of UPFA MPs literally waged war against the Speaker, in their bid to stop a vote in the House, it is likely they were keen to avoid such scenes given the backlash against those who behaved like thugs and hooligans and not like elected representatives of the people.

It's time for electronic voting. Pix by Ishanka Sunimal

The UPFA MPs did attend the party leaders’ meeting held on Tuesday in Parliament, presided over by the Speaker where they made a request that the said motions not be taken up for debate as they were illegal. The UPFA MPs had also argued that the issue of the dissolution of Parliament is pending before court and, hence, the matter was sub judice and should not be debated in the House.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, however, overruled their objections and said he had got expert legal opinion and there was no hindrance to holding the debate.

A motion preventing the Secretary to the Prime Minister from approving any expenditure drawn from funds of the Republic was signed by MPs Navin Dissanayake, Ravi Karunanayake, Nalaka Prasad Colonne, (Dr.) Kavinda Heshan Jayawardana, Hector Appuhamy and Chathura Sandeepa Senaratne; while the motion preventing secretaries to any and all ministries from approving any payment of monies drawn from state funds was signed by (Dr.) Rajitha Senaratne, Ravi Karunanayake, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Arjuna Ranatunga, Mano Ganesan and (Dr.) Jayampathy Wickramaratne.

Both motions were brought in the light of the two No Confidence Motions (NCM)s being passed against Mahinda Rajapaksa and his disputed Cabinet on November 14 and 16 following which the Speaker announced that he no longer recognised them as the legitimate government. The motions were bought by way of Parliament exercising the powers vested in it by the Constitution giving it full control over public finance.

JVP MPs who took part in the debates came down hard on President Sirisena saying he alone was responsible for the political crisis in the country and that he should take steps immediately to undo the damage he had done. “He must apologize to this country for the mess he has created and he must be made to pay for the economic losses incurred in the past month,” JVP MP BImal Ratnayake said.

Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe strikes a conciliatory tone

SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem said the grave situation has been brought on by one institution of state trespassing on another and must be rectified swiftly. “There is no government for 30 days and instead an illegal government has been put in place. The purported government does not have the guts to face the people and in the guise of boycotting Parliament is turning their back on the people,” he said.

On Friday MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe , who had thrown in his lot with the Rajapaksa camp, made a surprise entry to the Chamber and made a speech urging the Speaker to hold talks, with the President aimed at overcoming the current impasse. No doubt he was extending the olive branch at the behest of the President, who one month after his irrational and ill-thought-out actions, has been unable to either justify or garner adequate support for his move.

Hours after Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’s request, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya met with the President and, the following day, with MPs of ITAK (Tamil National Alliance) and the UNP in a bid to come to an amicable settlement. The talks did not help break the deadlock but more talks are expected before Parliament meets again on December 5 when another motion will be taken up for debate.

This motion proposes to the President that he take further action in terms of Article 48 (2) of the Constitution in the light of the two NCMs passed in Parliament following which the Cabinet of Ministers stands dissolved.

Given the latest developments in the month-long saga of infamy in the country’s political history, there is hope that there will be some resolution within the next few days. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya who has held on steadfastly despite many odds stacked against him is likely to see the country through one of the biggest challenges posed to its Legislature since Independence. It should come sooner than later.