Parliament begins - Sajith presents motion of confidence on Ranil

Parliament sessions commenced a short while ago under Speaker Karu Jayasuriya. The United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) has again boycotted the Parliament session. 

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By Sandun Jayawardana

Parliament sessions commenced a short while ago under Speaker Karu Jayasuriya. The United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) has again boycotted the Parliament session. 

United National Party (UNP) Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa is currently presenting a motion expressing confidence in UNP Leader and ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The UNP hopes to take a vote on the motion to prove that Mr Wickremesinghe commands the support of a majority of MPs in Parliament.  

Presenting the motion in Parliament, Mr Premadasa noted that the current period was the darkest in the country's history, with the entire country now at a standstill. The reason for the present crisis was the illegal removal of the PM on October 26, he stressed.

He pointed out that the United National Front (UNF) has repeatedly shown its majority in Parliament in all possible ways, be it through voice votes, raising of hand and electronic voting. By contrast, Mr Premadasa pointed out that Mr Rajapaksa and his purpoted Cabinet has repeatedly failed to show their majority. 

He appealed to President Maithripala Sirisena to wait no longer as the entire country had accepted that the actions taken from October 26 onwards were illegal. He called on him to accept that Ranil Wickremesinghe commands the support of a majority of MPs in Parliament and to take immediate action to reappoint Mr Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister.  

Mr Premadasa also commended the Speaker for what he called his courageous efforts to safeguard democracy in extremely challenging circumstances. 

UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera has seconded the motion presented by Mr Premadasa. He strongly criticised President Sirisena's actions from October 26 up to now. 

Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) Leader Mavai Senathirajah said that they would abide by the contents of the letter sent to President Sirisena on November 29 and signed by 14 MPs from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA). The letter stated that the TNA would lend its support to a nominee from the UNF to be appointed as the PM. Mr Senathirajah however, stated that they would not accept positions in any Government and would continue to function as members of the Opposition. 

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the party's stand with regard to Ranil Wickremesinghe remained the same as the one it took when a no-confidence motion was presented against then Prime Minister Wickremesinghe in April, this year. "The same facts all apply even now," Mr Dissanayake stated, noting that it will not support the motion presented by the UNF. 

Mr Dissanayake said Mr Wickremesinghe should also take the blame for creating a situation which led to the President seeking a partnership with Mahinda Rajapaksa.  

Voting on the motion will be taken by electronic vote. 

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