Date to debate NCM on Rishad to be decided tomorrow

A date to debate the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) on Minister Rishad Bathiudeen will be decided at the Party Leaders' Meeting tomorrow (May 23) Speaker Karu Jayasuriya told Parliament today. 

By Sandun Jayawardana

A date to debate the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) on Minister Rishad Bathiudeen will be decided at the Party Leaders' Meeting tomorrow (May 23) Speaker Karu Jayasuriya told Parliament today. 

The Speaker had to adjourn Parliament until 10.30 am tomorrow after Opposition MPs demanded that a date to debate the motion be decided on today. 

The Speaker was forced to adjourn Parliament after the Opposition protested over the failure to allocate a date to debate the NCM. Earlier, there were heated exchanges between the Government and Opposition over the NCM.

The Government had earlier proposed that allegations leveled against Minister Bathiudeen in the NCM be investigated by the Parliamentary Select Committee comprising members  of all parties represented in Parliament. The Opposition rejected this,accusing the Government of trying to buy time and avoid the NCM being taken up. 

Speaker Jayasuriya said he was firm in his belief that the NCM should be debated at the earliest, preferably in June. He however, noted that it was up to the Government to decide on the date.