The main Parliamentary Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), claimed that certain Parliamentarians representing the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) have unofficially informed they will abstain from voting in the No Confidence Motion (NCM) against Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella.

On 21 July, the SJB handed over a NCM against Rambukwella to Speaker of the Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana following a series of controversial patient fatalities in Government hospitals and allegations regarding the importation of substandard pharmaceutical drugs.

The Daily Morning queried SJB MP Dr. Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana as to whether the SJB had held discussions with other political parties to obtain their support for the NCM, to which he said they are yet to hold official discussions in that regard. “We have not held any official discussion yet. However, we are confident that this NCM will be supported by many. Even Government MPs have unofficially told us that they would abstain from voting in it.”

However, speaking to The Daily Morning on an earlier occasion, SLPP General Secretary and Government MP, attorney Sagara Kariyawasam said they would “definitely” stand with Rambukwella and vote against the NCM. He said that the Health Ministry, in the midst of a serious economic crisis in the country, is managing to maintain patient care services without any disruption, and added that Minister Rambukwella should, therefore, be appreciated.

SJB General Secretary and MP Ranjith Maddumabandara and MPs Jayawardhana and Nalin Bandara Jayamaha handed over the relevant NCM, which was signed by 45 Opposition MPs, to Speaker Abeywardana last week. The SJB has levelled allegations against Rambukwella that he has failed to address the serious shortage of drugs and medical equipment in the country. There are also allegations that several deaths of patients at Government hospitals in recent times are due to the use of substandard drugs.