The Motion of No Confidence (NCM) brought by the Opposition against the Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene was defeated by a majority of 42 votes in Parliament yesterday.
A total of 117 MPs voted against the motion while 75 MPs voted in favour. The motion was debated on March 19, 20 and 21.
The vote on the No Confidence Motion took place at 4.30 pm at the end of a three-day debate. None of the MPs abstained from voting. Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna MPs, the UNP member and the two members who joined the government from the Opposition voted against the proposal.
At the time of voting, 31 MPs were absent. MPs representing Samagi Jana Balavegaya, Tamil National Alliance, Jathika Jana Balavegaya and Independent Group voted in favour of the motion. Deputy Committee Chairman Angajan Ramanathan, Priyankara Jayaratne, Nimal Lanza, Vadivel Suresh, W.D.J.Senaviratne, A.L.M.Athavullah and A.H.M. Fowzie voted against the motion.
Former President Maithripala Sirisena,NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake,Dallas Alahapperama, Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera, C.V.Wigneswaran were among those not present in the chamber at the time of voting. Meanwhile, former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella who has been remanded, was also present and he voted against the motion. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena will continue to function as the Speaker.
The debate on the No Confidence Motion tabled by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) was initially decided to be held for two days, however the Committee on Parliamentary Business later decided for it to be debated for three consecutive days.The debate commenced in Parliament on March 19.
The motion against the Speaker was officially handed over to the Deputy General Secretary of Parliament by the Opposition members on March 5.
It had been signed by 44 parliamentarians including Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella and MPs Prof.G.L.Peiris, Rohini Kumari Wijeratne, Hesha Vithanage, Mano Ganesan, Rishad Bathiudeen, M.A.Sumanthiran, S.M.Marikkar, Ranjith Madduma Bandara,Thalatha Atukorale, Vijitha Herath and Chandima Weerakkody.
The no-confidence motion alleges that the Speaker had ignored the Supreme Court’s recommendations pertaining to Sections 13, 17, 20, 33 (6), 34 (1), 35 (1), 21, 22 and 33 of the Online Safety Bill. Further, the opposition MPs also claim that the Speaker had ‘unconstitutionally and unlawfully’ used his decisive vote to affirm the appointment of IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon when the other members of the Constitutional Council were divided on a tie on the matter.
Irangika Range