• Opposition has the support of 120 MPs on the no-confidence motion

By Ajith Siriwaradana 

Former Minister Udaya Gammanpila said Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has informed certain groups including Buddhist monks and party leaders that he was ready to step down. 

He told a news conference that a certain group who was using powers of the Prime Minister unduly was preventing him from stepping down.  

Gammanpila said if they continued to do so, he would reveal the names of those persons.  

He said the opposition had the support of 120 MPs on the no-confidence motion against the government.  
According to the MP, 65 Opposition MPs (SJB,TNA,JVP), 39 Independent group MPs, 10 SLPP MPs, three Muslim MPs who withdrew from the Government last week, SLPP MPs Dullas Alahapperuma, Charitha Herath and Nalaka Godahewa are supporting the no-confidence motion.