• SJB to submit motion at earliest
• Support of JVP, TNA to be sought

By Easwaran Rutnam   

A no-confidence motion is to be presented to Parliament against Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila.   The motion is to be presented by the Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).   SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara told Daily Mirror the motion will be presented to Parliament at the earliest possible date accusing the Energy Minister of being responsible for the fuel price hike.   

Madduma Bandara said that the support of the Tamil National Alliance and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna will be sought for the motion.   

The SJB is hopeful that some of the members in the government will also vote in support of the motion.   
Back-door negotiations were expected to take place to obtain the support of the SLPP MPs who had objected to the fuel price hike.   

SLPP General Secretary MP Sagara Kariyawasam  was among those who had openly blamed Gammanpila for the fuel price hike.   

However, Gammanpila had said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Cabinet Sub-Committee on the cost of living, which includes Minister Namal Rajapaksa, had approved the fuel price hike. 

 
He had also said that the fuel price hike  was a matter which came under the purview of the Minister of Finance. 

• Back-door negotiations were expected to take place to obtain the support  of the SLPP MPs who had objected to the fuel price hike.