Sixty UPFA MPs announce no faith motion against govt

Kalutara District MP Kumara Welgama yesterday said that Opposition would topple the government by bringing a no-faith motion in Parliament if it did not resign over the previous day’s defeat of the financial bill.

Addressing a press conference at the parliamentary complex, the former minister said the opposition had defeated a financial bill by a majority of 21 votes on Tuesday and now the government had to resign respecting the parliamentary traditions. “Otherwise, we will move a no-confidence motion against it,” he said.

MP Prof. G. L. Peiris said UPFA General Secretary MP Susil Premjayantha would inform Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa in writing that the majority of opposition MPs wanted MEP Leader Dinesh Gunawardena as their leader in Parliament.

All MPs who had submitted affidavits to the Speaker, requesting the appointment of MP Gunawardena to the post of opposition leader were present at the press conference.

Thy were MPs Bandula Gunawardena, Kumara Welgama, Gamini Lokuge, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, T.B. Ekanayake, S.M. Chandrasena, Wimal Weerawansa, Johnston Fernando, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Salinda Dissanayake, Sarath Kumara Gunaratne, Rohitha Abeygunwardena, Weerakumara Dissanayake, Vidura Wickremanayake, Ranjtih de Zoysa, Janaka Wakkumbura, V.K. Indika, Roshan Ranasinghe, Arundika Fernando, Janaka Priyantha Bandara, Shehan Semasinghe, Mohan Silva, Tharanath Basnayake, Manusha Nanayakkara, Uditha Lokubandara, Kanaka Herath, Geethanjana Gunawardena, Gunaratne Weerakoon, Namal Rajapaksa, Dlium Amunugama, Lohan Ratwatte, Sarana Guanwardena, W.B. Ekanayake, Y.G. Padamasiri, H.A. Muthukumarana, Chandrasiri Suriyarachchi, Chamika Buddhadasa, Lakshman Wasantha Perera, Ven. Ellawala Medhananda thera, Kamala Ranathunga, Sriyani Wijewickrama, Sajin Vass Gunawardena, Susantha Punchinilame, Tiran Alles, Malini Fonseka, Sarath Weerasekera, Jagath Balasuriya, Upeksha Swarnamali, Nirmala Kotelawala, Duminda Silva, Abdul Cader, Tissa Karalliyadda, G.H. Piyasena, J.R.P. Suriyapperuma, Vijitha Berugoda, Nishantha Muthuhettigama, Sunny Rohana, Dallas Alahapperuma, Mohan Lal Grero, Sumedha G. Jayasena, Keheliya Rambukwella, Piyankara Jayaratne, Jayasinghe Bandara and Rohana Dissanayake.

(The Island)