By Saman Indrajith

The no-confidence motion against speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena was defeated in Parliament yesterday by a majority of 42 votes.The motion moved by the Opposition received 75 votes for and 117 against.

The SJB, TNA, JVP/NPP and dissident SLPP MPs voted for the motion, while the MPs supporting the government voted against the motion.The vote was taken around 4.40 pm yesterday after three days of debate which was presided over by Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakshe.

At the end of the debate, Chief Opposition Whip Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella called for a division.The vote was initially scheduled to be held on Wednesday (March 20), but it was put off by one day as per a decision taken at the Parliamentary Business Committee meeting to debate the no-confidence motion for three consecutive days.

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, during his speech, said that the government could have rejected the no-faith motion on technical grounds.

“We could have rejected this motion on the basis that it violated the policy that internal affairs of the Constitutional Council should not be made public. We have confidence in this Speaker. It was he who took the lead to protect parliament when the Aragalaya protesters were trying to march on parliament. He acted bravely to protect the parliamentary system. He worked in cooperation with the then Prime Minister to save Parliament,” Prime Minister Gunawardena said.

“There have been issues and disagreements between CC members in the past but no member disclosed them. However, the Opposition members of the current CC have disclosed inside information. This is an irresponsible act,” the Premier said.

Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa said that the Speaker had connived with the Executive in violation of the doctrine of the separation of power.

Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, who is in remand custody over charges of substandard immunoglobulin, too, had been allowed to be brought into the House to vote.

Mass Media Minister Bandula Gunawardena, who had been on an official visit to the US to take part in a conference organised by the World Bank, returned to the country on Wednesday night (20), on the directives of President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Upon his arrival, Minister Gunawardena told the media that he had been called back to participate in a crucial vote on the no-confidence motion.