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No confidence motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe was defeated in parliament today. The motion only received 76 votes in favour while 176 votes were cast against it. 26 MP’s were absent during the vote.

Refuting claims by State Minister A.H.M Fowzie today that the SLFP has decided to abstain from voting against the PM at today's NCM, State Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene was quoted as saying that the party will in fact vote against the PM.

State Minister A.H.M Fowzie had claimed that the party had decided to abstain from voting in the NCM. However, questions are now being raised as to if there is a rift in the SLFP regarding the NCM due to the contradictory statements being made by its members.

Minister of Finance and Media Mangala Samaraweera says that he is grateful to fellow Member of Parliament, Mahinda Rajapaksa from the Kurunegala District, along with the Joint Opposition, for initiating the motion which would reaffirm the confidence on Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The minister made this remark while participating in the no-confidence motion debate today (04).

 Speaking further, the Minister said the main political challenge for the opposition is Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. “The obstacle to impeach the President is the Prime Minister,” he said adding that this no-confidence motion is the first step of a political conspiracy.

Built a country which was ridden by debt

The Minister also said that the government took over a country ridden with debt and it was the PM that led the country in its economic victories in the last three years. He went on to say that this proves the PM is a good politician and that the no-confidence motion is a first step of a political conspiracy that was defeated fortunately for the country.

The Prime Minister is not a political hypocrite

He also recalled the commitment made by the Prime Minister in 2014 and said that there was no hypocrisy on his part when it was suggested that Maithripala Sirisena be given the candidacy.

Speaking further, the Minister said:

The Prime Minister worked day and night to ensure the President wins. But this is an attempt to take the country back to darkness. The Prime Minister wants to stop corruption. We will not sweep the bond scam under the rug. We will make new laws to recover the money lost. No one is speaking about the trillions the country lost before that. Therefore the NCM is a failed attempt to mislead the people.

PM is behind all the country’s victories

We took over a country saddled with debt. The PM led the economic victories in the country during the past three years. Investments have increased. Unemployment has fallen. State finance showed a primary budget surplus for the first time last year.

"The trade agreements signed with India with China have contributed to market growth. There is a very productive economic process. The Prime Minister is personally committed to the process of Constitutional Reforms. The President is committed to accelerating the process", he said adding that even though there are obstacles, the government will continue this process into the future.

Just yesterday, Minister Chanidma Weerakkody said that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party's parliamentary group had decided to request the Prime Minister to vacate his post before the no-confidence motion.

However, making an abrupt u-turn, State Minister A.H.M Fowzie said today that the SLFP has decided to abstain from voting in NCM.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived at the Parliament Complex, a short while ago.

The UPFA Kurunegala District MP arrived to participate in the ongoing debate on the no-confidence motion (NCM) against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

A new Board of Directors under the Chairmanship of Mr. Ranjit Fernando has been appointed at SriLankan Airlines in order to accelerate the restructuring process and create the enabling environment to proceed with entering into a Public-Private-Partnership with a strategic investor, the Ministry of Finance said today.

Other members appointed to the board include Mr. Mano Tittewella (Ministry of Finance), Dr. Roshan Perera (Central Bank), Air Marshal Kapila Jayampathi (Air Force Commander) and Mr. Susantha Katugampala (Lawyer/Barrister).

The restructuring and PPP process will continue to be guided by the Officials Committee chaired by the Secretary to the Treasury with the participation of the Secretary, Ministry of Public Enterprise Development and Chairman of the National Agency for Public Private Partnership (NAPPP), Mr. Thilan Wijesinghe. Mr. Wijesinghe serves as the Convener of the Officials Committee.

The Officials Committee, set up in September 2017, will continue to refer required areas for direction by the Ministerial Committee chaired by the Hon. Prime Minister and for implementation by the Board of SriLankan Airlines. Aviation Consultants, Nyras of UK, hired after a competitive process in November 2017 by the Officials Committee, will continue to report to the Officials Committee. This working arrangement is to ensure shareholder (Treasury) interests are adequately addressed in the restructuring process.

 The NAPPP, with the assistance of Nyras, will coordinate the PPP process that will be implemented in parallel with the restructuring process and advise the Ministry of Finance and Officials Committee. The NAPPP will also advise the Officials Committee on the debt restructuring process designed to mitigate any impact on the General Treasury and State Banks, who are the largest lenders to SriLankan Airlines.

Opposition Leader R Sampanthan says that the wording and timing of the no-confidence motion, which seeks to implicate the Prime Minister with the bond scam, are indicative of the pursuit of a political agenda through the motion rather than fixing responsibility in regard to the bond scam.

“The question must be raised as to why the wording is so vague and lacking in any specific charge against the Prime Minister in regard to the fraud pertaining to the bond scam per say,” he said, delivering a statement in Parliament today (4) during the debate on the motion.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader stated that the wording is too loose and general in nature and that it could be that the PM is facing this situation because of the confidence he placed on someone who has betrayed him.

“But where is the evidence or charge against the Prime Minister of involvement in the bond scam?

Is the wording of the motion so loose and so general because of the lack of specific material against the Prime Minister in regard to the bond scam?” he questioned.

“And if that is true in my submission the motion lacks credibility,” he charged.

With regard to the timing of the motion, he stated that the bond scam occurred 3 years ago and that it has been the subject of total public focus for a long period of time. “Why has this motion of no-confidence been brought against the Prime Minister only now?” he asked the House.

Sampanthan also inquired as to whether this motion against the PM is the first step in a plan to bring down “totally and completely” the present government.

He stated that it is their view that the inadequate performance by the government in the first half of their term was the cause of the result at the recent local government polls in which the SLFP and UNP suffered defeat.

He said if they perform better in the next two and a half years, public disenchantment can change.

Unfortunately the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) does not want that to happen, he said. They want to first defeat the PM and the next target will be the President, he claimed. “They want the government brought down.”

The TNA leader further stated that they want the government to implement the mandate given to it by the country.

“In these circumstances how can we possibly support this no-confidence motion?”

He alleged that the true intentions of the Podujana Peramuna are shrouded in an environment of prejudice based upon the bond scam. We cannot fall victim to such and allow ourselves to be used to achieve their political objective, Sampanthan said.

Source : Ada Derana

At the cabinet meeting held today, UNP Ministers of the cabinet had requested their SLFP counterparts to present their stance on the upcoming no confidence vote against Prime Minister and Leader of the UNP, Ranil Wickramasinghe.

 “Not sure if our official stance will fall in line with that of others, so ask SB or Susil” - Minister Vijith Wijayamuni Zoysa

While the UNP group had first questioned Duminda Dissanayake of the SLFP, however Vijith Wijayamuni Zoysa had asked them to direct the question to S.B Dissanayake or Susil Premajayantha instead as it is they had been making statements to the media in this regard recently. He had gone on to say that if not they were capable of claiming that his or Duminda’s opinion on the matter is not the official stance of the party.

 “I am not the SLFP spokesman, ask Minister Susil or Nimal” - Minister S.B Dissanayake

The UNP Ministers had then gone on to ask S.B Dissanayake of the official party decision regarding the no confidence vote. While the PM had then arrived at the meeting, the UNP Ministers had asked S.B to reveal their stance in front of the PM it self.

However S.B claiming he is not the SLFP spokesperson had instead directed the question to Susil Premajayantha who had avoided answering in the end leaving Minister Nimal Siripala Silva to face the barrage of questions.

 “There is a common call for you to resign Prime Minister but in no way is it a personal opinion only” - Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva

Answering the queries Nimal Siripala had claimed the official stance of the SLFP is that the PM should resign prior to the no confidence vote. The Minister had gone on stress this is not a personal opinion of one individual but the collective understanding of the party.

If that is your stance then listen to ours as well! There will be no resignation! We will ensure the win of the government and the PM! - Minister Mangala Samaraweera

Minister Mangala is said to have wanted to present the UNP party stance after the reply but then had gone on to request the PM to present it instead. However the PM had asked Mangala to go ahead.

“The no confidence vote is not only against the PM but against the whole government” he had said adding that therefore their aim is to defeat it. “We will protect the government and PM unconditionally” he had said.

The Minister had also claimed that therefore there will be no resignation as requested by the SLFP and left the meeting.

Sources say that following this incident Minister Zoysa was heard saying that some talk shop but are afraid to state their decisions when confronted.

However despite claims by Minister De Silva, sources say the SLFP is still not in a collective stance about the vote with some Ministers are said to be of the opinion that the vote must be defeated.

 The SLFP group is set to meet the President once more today sources claim.

State Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena has categorically denied the statement made by State Minister A.H.M. Fowzie which stated that the SLFP would boycott the debate and the vote of the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Speaking further, Minister Lakshman Yapa stated that the official position of the SLFP is to vote in favour of the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Wickremesinghe. He reiterated that this decision has not been changed.

Dilan and Lakshman to join JO’s Gota faction

Meanwhile, internal sources of the SLFP said that State Ministers Dilan Perera and Lakshman Yapa along with a few MPs are planning to join the Joint Opposition today (04).

SLFP sources added that this group has been in discussions with the Joint Opposition for some time now and that they are prepared to join the JO’s Gota faction.

A TNA delegation headed by opposition leader R. Sampanthan were at the Presidential secretariat for a meeting with President today.

It is believed the discussion was regarding the up coming no confidence vote. The TNA was predicted to support Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe at tomorrow's vote.

However Opposition leader R. Sampanthan said he informed President that TNA will decide tonight on its position on no-confidence motion on PM.

 Meanwhile the SLFP has said it would vote against the PM unless he resigns today.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) intends to vote in favour of the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, JVP MP Bimal Rathnayaka said a short while ago. The party has six MPs in Parliament.

Speaking during the debate on the NCM in Parliament, MP Rathnayake, who was the first JVP MP to speak during the debate, alleged that there was a deal between the PM and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to defeat the NCM.

He accused the PM of having "betrayed the mandate given by the people in 2015." The MP also countered claims that the PM was not directly linked to the bond scam. Mr Rathnayake questioned why people such as Arjun Aloysius tried to build a media empire using funds stolen through the bond scam. He also accused the PM of knowingly protecting those involved in the scam and of obstructing the work of those tasked with investigating it.

The JVP MP also had harsh words for President Maithripala Sirisena, claiming that it was actually the President who was behind the NCM and he was planning to join forces with Gotabaya Rajapaksa to defeat the PM and ensure his own survival.

Claiming that the Ranil Wickremesinghe, Maithripala Sirisena and Mahinda Rajapaksa were all part of the nexus of protecting the corrupt, he appealed to the people to move away from the 'ape hora apita honda' attitude and act against those who are corrupt.

Source : Sunday Times

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party's parliamentary group has unanimously decided to request Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to resign from his post, Minister Chandima Weerakkody confirmed today.

Accordingly, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva has conveyed the SLFP's decision to Premier Wickremesinghe a short while ago.