The no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was handed over to the Secretary General of Parliament, Dammika Dasanayake on June 5 evening by a group pf UPFA parliamentarians.
Speaking to Newsfirst, Secretary General of Parliament Dammika Dasanayaka said 112 MPs have signed the motion.
UPFA MP Bandula Gunawardena noted that the approvals of the speaker and from the leadership of the UPFA were obtained for the submission of the no-confidence motion.
UPFA MP Manusha Nanayakkara stated that on previous occasions, no-confidence motions contained only a signature or two or around 20 signatures. He went on to say that this is the first time in history where a no-confidence motion has been submitted with 112 signatures.
The no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister comprises the following eight points;
– Operating as the Prime Minister in violation of the Constitution and without the mandate of the majority in Parliament
– Suspending a large number of large and small development projects and thus causing hundreds of thousands to lose their self-employment methods and means of income
– Politicising the police force by violating the Police Ordnance
– Creating in a issue over the cost of living
– The appointment of a non-Sri Lankan to the post of Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka
– Accountable for Sri Lanka’s largest financial loss through the issue of treasury bonds
– Severely tarnishing international relations
– Implementation of state financial policies in a manner that discourages the private sector
When News 1st contacted Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Chandima Weerakkody, to question how the no-confidence motion submitted on Friday (June 5) will be taken up for debate, he noted that there is a possibility of entering the motion in to the Parliamentary agenda by Wednesday June 10, following which, it will remain in the Parliamentary agenda for a period of five days.
He added that at the end of those five days, a party leaders’ meeting will be convened and a day will be decided on which the debate will be held. This will then be included in the Parliamentary agenda.
The deputy speaker added that according to parliamentary traditions, when such a motion is submitted it will be given priority over other motions and will be taken up for debate. The end of the debate would be marked by the passing of the motion with a majority.
