The political crisis in the country creating instability has now passed its second week with the United National Front (UNF) led opposition adamantly refusing to make way for the peaceful continuation of government headed by President Maithripala Sirisena and Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa and to subsequently face a general election to seek the people’s mandate.
President Maithripala Sirisena had refused to accept the second no confidence vote on Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday because it had not been done in keeping with the Standing Orders.
He had told the party leaders of the government on Friday night that he agreed to abide by the vote, if it was taken in keeping with Parliament traditions.
On Thursday, the President met the party leaders of the United National Front which was the main party backing the No-confidence vote and had made this assurance.
“The President said the vote was not conducted as promised and hence he will not accept the result. He told us to show our majority and carry on with the Government,” former Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena told reporters after the meeting with the President on Friday night. The President will never continue with a government headed by UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, the former Minister said, but declined to comment if the President would accept Sajith Premadasa as the Prime Minister.
Minister of Industry and Commerce Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena told the Sunday Observer that they will not bring in a no confidence motion against the Speaker as the exercise would be futile.
However, Parliamentarian Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena told a press conference last evening that it is timely that the Speaker steps down and makes way for a new appointment to the Chair.
Several party members told the Sunday Observer that they would decide tomorrow on how to proceed with tomorrow’s parliamentary session subsequent to the party leaders meeting.
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran said the TNA would decide on the way forward regarding the current political stalemate in Parliament following the party leaders meeting tomorrow prior to the parliamentary session.
“I believe a party leaders meeting will be held on Monday and we will decide then,” he said adding that currently, the TNA has
made no decision in this regard.
However, Sumanthiran dismissed any possibility of yet another no-confidence motion being presented in Parliament on Monday against Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. “We consider it as done,” he said.
United National Party (UNP) MP Ajith P. Perera said that there was no final decision on the order book of the Parliament yet and that the Speaker will decide.
Party leaders will meet the Speaker tomorrow morning prior to the Parliamentary session.