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Gammanpila to conditionally support NCM

18 Apr 2022

 
  • Conditions include 113 MPs’ support for NCM and all-party interim Govt. 
  • Says Speaker agrees to separate seats in P’ment for independent members
BY Dinitha Rathnayake Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Leader Udaya Gammanpila, who was elected under the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), but currently sits independent in Parliament, has stated that he is ready to support the no-confidence motion (NCM) filed by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) – the main Parliamentary Opposition – against the Government, under two conditions.  Gammanpila further stated that the conditions were: To ensure the support of 113 MPs for the no-confidence motion; and to support the interim all-party Government to be formed after the defeat of the Government in the no-confidence motion.  He was speaking at a media briefing held at the PHU headquarters in Pita Kotte yesterday (18).  Gammanpila further expressed his views saying that it is reported that the SJB, which has only 46 seats in the Opposition, is moving to file a no-confidence motion against the Government. The support of 67 more MPs is required to pass this motion.  “However, the SJB has not yet discussed the matter with other political parties or groups. The SJB has not yet agreed to an all-party interim Government. If this no-confidence motion is won, the present Government will disintegrate. What is the end result of this? The loss of the existing Government means that a new Government will not be formed which means that the country will become anarchic.  “We are ready to support the no-confidence motion on two conditions. First, the support of 113 MPs must be ensured, to in turn ensure that this is not a Government victory. It is better to take a little more time because things like the incident of MP Shantha Bandara taking a State Ministerial portfolio after the Sri Lanka Freedom Party decided to sit independently in the Parliament and not accept Ministerial posts, could happen.  “Secondly, full support should be given to the interim all-party Government to be formed after the defeat of the Government. Only if these two conditions are met can the background be prepared to defeat this Government.”  He also noted that Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena had agreed to provide separate seats in the Parliament for independent members. There was also a discussion on the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, which would re-enact the 19th Amendment to the Constitution with appropriate amendments that have to do with a lot of very important aspects like depriving dual citizens of the opportunity to come to the Parliament, Gammanpila noted. “We pointed out that it would take about eight months to get it passed if it is brought as a private member Bill. After the motion was moved, the Speaker discussed it with the President and promised to take the necessary steps to present it as a Government motion.”


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