By Sandun A Jayasekera

The No Confidence Motion (NCM) prepared by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has been able to unite the entire opposition and the 11 party independent alliance against the much hated Rajapaksa regime and the collection of signatures for the NCM was gathering momentum, chief opposition whip and senior vice president of the SJB, Lakshman Kiriella said yesterday.  

The SJB was confident that the SLFP and the 11 party alliance would extend their cooperation and blessings to the NCM in the days to come, he added.  
“Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has been able to muster only the support of 88 members of Parliamentarians when he invited all SLPP members and constituent partners for a discussion on Friday. This is a far cry from the 145 seats, the SLPP won in August 2020 Parliamentary polls and formed a government with a two thirds majority. I would like to ask Mahinda as to how he is going to save the government from the NCM with 88 members or less,”  Kiriella told Daily Mirror yesterday.  

On the instructions of the party leader Sajith Premadasa, a number of groups led by party seniors has been appointed to talk to the SLFP, 11 party alliance and other likeminded parliamentarians to obtain their support to the NCM and the discussions held up to now were extremely satisfactory, Kiriella stressed.   

Confirming what Kiriella said, General Secretary of the SLFP and former Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara said the SLFP has had a powwow on the next course of action with the SJB and further discussions were in progress.  
“Yes, the SLFP and the 11 party alliance will discuss on how to prepare and win the NCM against the government. We are basically in agreement on this issue but need exchanging of views further before coming to a final consensus,”  Jayasekara emphasized.