Pic by Pradeep Pathirana

• All MPs should get together in defeating the government

By Yohan Perera 

United National Party (UNP) is ready to support an effectively planned no-confidence motion against the government, Deputy Leader of the party Ruwan Wijewardene said yesterday.  

Speaking during a Satyagraha organised by the party in Rambukkana against the recent killing of a youth in the area, a no-confidence motion against the government should be planned effectively to ensure that it is endorsed by a majority of members in Parliament. “All MPs in Parliament against the government should get together in defeating the government. It is the government which will gain in the event a no-confidence motion is defeated,” he said.  Referring to the Rambukkana incident, Mr Wijewardene said IGP should ensure that all policemen involved in the killing of Chaminda Lakshan are arrested and work in accordance with the Court order. 

UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara said the Leader of the Opposition should focus on ensuring the no-confidence motion against the government is approved and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is removed from power. “Leader of the Opposition should focus on toppling the government and removing the President from power rather than staging protests. They should have a dialogue with all parties and those who have left the government and become independent. Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe would have been able to muster a majority in Parliament by now if he was the Leader of Opposition today,” he said.