Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe has informed the President last night (18)that he will not step down from his post unless a no-confidence motion against him can be passed in parliament.
He is said to have told this during a meeting held yesterday at the President’s official residence.
Joining the meeting, General Secretary of the United National Party (UNP) Kabir Hashim has expressed the party stance saying it has no wish for a new PM and the party wants to continue with the good governance government.
Hints from both parties about crossovers!
Severa SLFP members in favour of good governance will join me : Mujibur Rahman
The UNP says as the party has the majority in the house they will continue with the government as several SLFP members favourable to good governance is set to join them.
According to UNP MP Mujibur Rahman is the SLFP wishes to form a government they will have to show the majority in the parliament he said adding that the UNP has 107 MP’s with the majority of the government needs 113. “There are several SLFP MP’s willing to join us and we will then have many more members than even needed” he said.
Challenge to the SLFP!
He went on to say that the UNP has no issue in continuing the government as it is and only a particuar senior Minister of the SLFP is attemtping to topple the government.
“They want to form a new government but if so they must show a majority” he said adding that they at least must show more number of MP’s than the 107 that supports the UNP" he said while challenging the SLFP.
As the leader of the parliamentary group with the majority support UNP leader Wickramasinghe will remain as the PM he said adding that there is no need for an alternative choice.
"A minister of Sri Lanka Freedom Party recently collected signatures to a letter to announce the withdrawal of his fellow ministers from the government, but all the SLFP ministers have not signed it," he points out.
"In such a situation, I would challenge them to bring a no-confidence motion and win," he said.
Tamil National Alliance :
He also said that no discussion has been held with the TNA to secure the majority of the house. While the media questioned the MP about UNP members not present at the MP meeting he said they had prior commitments and had informed the General Secretary of their inability to attend.
SLFP response :
Senior Deputy Chairman of the party and Labor Minister WDJ Seneviratne has said that they have the strength to form a new government with a group of MPs from the combined opposition and United National Party.
According to the local government election results, a new scenario for Sri Lankan politics was created, and accordingly, the president will be empowered under the 19th amendment to appoint a new prime minister and a new cabinet to change the prime minister's position he said.
UNP members joining us : WDJ Seneviratne
While saying the new government will be formed with the help of the JO he said the SLFP is able to get the majority.
Leave your comments
Login to post a comment
Post comment as a guest