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Party leaders urge Speaker to get GR to remove Ranil

14 Jul 2022

  • Agree to Speaker becoming acting Prez 
  • Tri-forces Commanders tell Ranil to heed public voice   
  • Ranil tells Speaker to nominate a PM acceptable to both Govt. and Opposition
BY Buddhika Samaraweera At the party leaders’ meeting chaired by Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, which was not attended by Acting President and United National Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, the party leaders urged the Speaker to intervene to get President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to remove Wickremesinghe from the post of the Premier, before he (the President) resigns. In addition to the political party leaders representing Parliament, Army Commander Lt. Gen. Vikum Liyanage, Air Force Commander Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, and Inspector General of Police Chandana D. Wickramaratne also participated in the party leaders’ meeting held yesterday (13) at the Parliament complex. When contacted by The Morning, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Member and Deputy Chairman of the Committees of the Parliament Angajan Ramanathan, who attended the meeting, said that although Wickremesinghe was supposed to attend the meeting, the latter was not present, adding that the meeting, according to Speaker Abeywardena, focused on the next course of action as the President’s resignation letter was expected to reach the Speaker by last night.  “Even though Wickremesinghe should have attended the meeting, he did not, unfortunately. The Army, the Navy, and the Air Force Commanders were there. The Speaker informed us that the next course of action after the receipt of the President’s resignation letter, which they expected to receive by last night, was what would be discussed during the meeting."  He also said that the party leaders requested the Speaker to intervene to get President Rajapaksa to remove Wickremesinghe from the post of the Premier, prior to his (the President's) resignation. Further noting that the Tri-forces Commanders had asked the party leaders to make a decision regarding what action should be taken as the protestors were coming towards Parliament and the Speaker's residence, he said that the party leaders had however stated that either the Premier should tender his resignation, which they think would help the protests subside, or the Government should make a decision in that regard.  “As the Opposition, we have no authority to make such a decision. Therefore, the party leaders, in one voice, said that either the Premier should resign, which the people would accept and the protests would then subside. If not, the Government should make a decision. The Commanders also informed us that they have asked the Premier to listen to the voice of the public, who are protesting demanding his resignation,” added Ramanathan. Meanwhile, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP and Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella, speaking to the media last night, said that during the party leaders’ meeting, they have come to an agreement that they should get the President to remove Wickremesinghe from the post of the Premier, and that Speaker Abeywardena should be appointed as the Acting President when the President resigns. He also said that if the Speaker is appointed as the acting President, they are ready to hold the necessary discussions and prepare a roadmap. A press release issued by the Prime Minister's Media Division following the Party Leaders’ meeting stated that Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe has informed Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to nominate a Prime Minister who is acceptable to both the Government and Opposition. “On Monday (11), the Prime Minister held a meeting with the Members of the Cabinet at the Prime Minister's Office. All the ministers who participated in this meeting were of the opinion that as soon as there is an agreement to form an all-party government, they will hand over the responsibilities to that Government. Accordingly, the ruling party and the Opposition must form an all-party Government,” the statement read. Among the other attendees of the party leaders meeting were, SLFP Chairman and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) elected ‘independent’ MP Maithripala Sirisena, SJB General Secretary and MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna led National People's Power Leader and MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Leader and SLPP elected ‘independent’ MP Udaya Gammanpila, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader and SJB MP Rauff Hakeem, Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi MP and President's Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran, Our Power of People Party MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera, National Congress Leader A.L.M. Athaullah, Democratic Left Front Leader and SLPP elected ‘independent’ MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Eelam People's Democratic Party Leader and SLPP MP Douglas Devananda, SLPP MP Weerasumana Weerasinghe, SJB MP Gayantha Karunatilleka, Democratic People's Front Leader and SJB MP Mano Ganesan, Democratic National Alliance Leader and SLPP elected MP Tiran Alles and P. Radhakrishnan.  


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