We will take a vote on the no-confidence motion and win back the government tomorrow : Ranil

The United National Party (UNP) organised a mass protest rally, with around 15,000 people gathering at the Lipton roundabout in Colombo today (15). 

By Abdullah Shahnawaz

The United National Party (UNP) organised a mass protest rally, with around 15,000 people gathering at the Lipton roundabout in Colombo today (Nov 15). 

The rally was convened following the President's rejection of the no confidence motion put forward to him following yesterday's session in Parliament. Further protestors also called out the actions of the President including the appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as PM and the dissolution of Parliament as unconstitutional.

“The Parliament has to be respected as an institution, said Ranil Wickremesinghe, leader of the UNP. “We will be taking a vote on the no-confidence motion tomorrow and we will take back the Government. However, this doesn’t mean that we are afraid to face a general election. We are ready  for one but it has to be legal. Otherwise people can later challenge the legitimacy of the party that wins.”

“Not only a General Election, after January 8 we will get a majority in parliament to vote for a presidential election to be held as well, and we will take the executive branch under us too.” 

Meanwhile, UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa urged the people not to believe any false stories about him vying for the Prime Minister post. 

“They ask me what my decision is,” he said. “My decision is the people’s, my party’s and our ExCo's decision.”