Ex-PM once again assures government it needs not fear UNP exploiting situation if it reconvenes House
Former Prime Minister and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, yesterday said that if the government reconvened Parliament, there would be no need for all 224 MPs to attend the sitting and just 20 MPs could meet to avoid the impending constitutional crisis.
Wickremesinghe said the quorum was 20 MPs. Therefore, if the government decided to reconvene there would be no need for all former MPs to gather there.
UNP leader Wickremesinghe said so when he met a group of former MPs who called on him, at his Kollupitiya residence, yesterday.
The former PM said that all crises could be solved by passing required bills and affording parliamentary approval for the motions and granting legal status for government motions required to solve the issues resulting from the shutting down of the country to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Wickremesinghe assured that the UNP would not support any move or motion against the government, if it reconvened parliament. He said the government should not harbour any fears that the UNP would move a motion against it to put the government in trouble at a time when the entire nation was facing a health emergency.
He said so when the MPs pointed out that some government MPs had said the Opposition would topple the government if Parliament was reconvened. Those who met Wickremesinghe included Ravi Karunanayake, Vajira Abeywardena, Palitha Range Bandara, Champika Premadasa and K.K. Piyadasa.
Wickremesinghe said the parliament session for a special meeting could be limited for around one hour, if the party leaders reached an agreement to pass all the motions considering the prevailing situation in the country. The second reading of a bill could be limited to one hour and all those bills could be taken together to avoid waste of time, the former PM said.
He said the party leaders could meet and set the order paper and the agenda for the special meeting and the Opposition parties would remain within the agreement.
UNP leader Wickremesinghe pointed out that many European countries, including England, summoned their parliaments for special sessions, at the outset of the spreading of the coronavirus, to get required legislations passed to face the pandemic.
The former Prime Minister said that in the joint letter sent by opposition parties to the President, the UNP had put it down in writing its standpoint on tackling coronavirus.
(Source: The Island – By Saman Indrajith)
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President Gotabaya Rajapaksa shouldn’t expect the support of the Opposition grouping, under any circumstances. RW’s offer of cooperation, in return for reconvening of parliament, is nothing but a joke. Having failed to imprison Gotabaya Rajapaksa, during the 2015-2019 period, they tried to prevent him from contesting the presidential election (US citizenship case), same lot blocked the required parliamentary approval for funding.
RW has a vision. Not greedy for power. your alligations are basless.
RW is ok; he keeps his word and he cares for the country.
But the people I fear are the Balavegaya Marauders lead by Premadasa, supported by Madduma Bandara, Harsha de Silve, Kabir Hashim, Malik Samarawickrema, Mangala Samaraweera, Harin Fernando, Sujeeva Senasinghe etc.
They are a treacherous lot; they can do anything to gain nothing but personal benefit.
They are planning to take the country back to the dark Ranasinghe Premadasa era.
So, the old Parliament should not be convened ever again.
Whatever happens, even if the Constitution is breached, we should not let the Premadasa dark era into the country, ever again.
Mr. Upali, This is for you. If RW is not greedy for power why he hanging on to UNP leadership after more than 23 continuous defeats. He never became the PM in 1915 through a clear mandate from the masses. In fact he became the PM coming through the back door. When Hon Sirisena became the President he appointed him. He was Greedy for power and hanging into it. That is why he never took action when fellow Royalists such as Arjuna Mahendran, Ravi Karunanayagam looted state bank right under his Norse. If RW is a genius and a Superman (or even Spider-man) why he never detected this and allowed to happen? Not last but not least: you said RW has a vision. Wehre was that vision from 2015 to Nov 2019? I will give you one clue: When MR got defeated in 2015 SL has rice even store in Airports. But after Yama Palanaya came to Power SL imported Rice from 5 countries. RW and his cabinet openly said SL should stop cultivating rice and start growing crops such as Palm-oil and depend on small industries. When Yama Palanaya was kicked out by the voters SL was even importing Salt, fish, rubber Slippers, coconut fibre thread (Kohu-lanu) from neighbouring countries. One more thing before I go….Wat about imparting Industrial waste, discarded body parts (Hospital waste) from UK and dumping in Muthurajawela. Come on Upali is that his Vision?