News

Opposition move to take up motion against President defeated

Published

4 years ago

2022/05/18

By Saman Indrajith

The Opposition’s move to suspend Standing Orders and take up a motion yesterday censuring President Gotabaya Rajapaksa failed.

The Opposition parties demanded that the motion be taken for debate by suspending the Standing Orders but as the government disagreed the matter was put to the vote and defeated by a majority of 51 votes.

As per the results of the vote, the Opposition parties will have to wait several days more to take the motion for debate in the House.

At the commencement of the business of the House, the Opposition parties asked the Chair to take up the motion of censure against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Leader of the House Minister Dinesh Gunawardena pointed out that the

motion had been submitted very

late, and it should be on the Order Paper of Parliament for at least five days to be taken up for debate in the House. The time period has been stipulated by the Standing Orders, Gunawardena pointed out, adding that therefore the motion of censure could not be taken up for the debate now.”

Chief Opposition Whip SJB Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella called on the Speaker to give a ruling on the matter and take the motion for debate. “As per the Article 42 of the Constitution the President is responsible to Parliament. He should come here and provide responses to the questions because he is duty bound to do so. We have a motion of censure to show that the President is guilty of dereliction of his duties and shirking his responsibilities 35 times during the recent past. We need time to debate this. It is the duty of the Speaker to allow this. The Speaker should respect the Westminster System.”

TNA MP Sumanthiran proposed to suspend the Parliament Standing Orders to take up the censure motion.

Sumanthiran’s proposal was seconded by Chief Opposition Whip SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella.

Leader of the House Minister Gunawardena opposed the move and requested a vote to stop the proposal.

Minister Gunawardena said that the motion could be debated at a later date without suspending the standing orders.

The Opposition’s proposal was then put to the vote.

The Government secured 119 votes, while the opposition obtained 68 votes.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe also voted with the Government to defeat the proposal.

MP Sumanthiran found fault with Prime Minister Wickremesinghe for siding with the ruling party.

MP Sumanthiran condemned Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, stating that the country was now aware who was attempting to protect the President.

Pointing out that the debate would only result in a motion of censure, MP Sumanthiran said that the President would not lose his job by the motion being taken up for debate.

“Your names have been displayed on the board today. The country now knows who is protecting the President, who does not. Absolutely shameless conduct by the Prime Minister and those on the government benches,” he said.

Sumanthiran Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had agreed to the motion of censure when the latter was in the Opposition.

“MP Wickremesinghe wanted to see the draft and I sent it to him on the 26 April. He vetted it. He suggested that the draft be sent to Galle Face protesters to obtain their consent as well,” the MP said.

Stating that the draft had been sent to the protesters at Galle Face, the TNA MP said their consent had been obtained.

MP Sumanthiran also pointed out that at the time the Prime Minister had also issued two statements revealing that he will vote in favour of the Motion expressing displeasure over the President’s conduct.

He questioned why Wickremesinghe had changed his stance and had failed to vote in favour of the motion as previously announced.

“What games is he playing? The only thing that has changed between that day and today is that he has got a job as Prime Minister,” MP Sumanthiran said.

The TNA MP said Wickremesinghe had compromised his principles.

MP Sumanthiran added that the Prime Minister who was asking for support from the Opposition when he didn’t have the support of his own people on the government benches.

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Flood warning issued to the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa, Udunuwara, Yatinuwara, Gangawata Korale, Harispattuwa, and Pathadumbara

Published

13 hours ago

2026/09/20

Priyan

Due to heavy rainfall received in the upper catchment areas of the Mahaweli River over the past few hours, there is a risk of minor flooding in the low-lying areas surrounding the Mahaweli River within the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa, Udunuwara, Yatinuwara, Gangawata Korale, Harispattuwa, and Pathadumbara.Residents living in the above mentioned areas and motorists using roads passing through these areas are urged to exercise extreme caution and remain highly vigilant regarding the prevailing situation.

Furthermore, residents living in close proximity to the Mahaweli River in these areas are advised to remain highly alert to the situation and take all necessary precautions to protect themselves from any potential flooding.The relevant disaster management authorities are requested to take all necessary measures in response to this situation.

Latest News

Landslide Red Alerts issued to the districts of Kandy, Kegalle and Nuwara Eliya

Published

13 hours ago

2026/09/20

Priyan

The National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide Red Alerts to the districts of Kandy, Kegalle and Nuwara Eliya effective from 14:00 hrs on 20.09.2026 To 14:00 hrs on 21.09.2026

Accordingly,
LEVEL III [RED] Land Slide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Pasbage Korale in the Kandy district, Dehiowita, Aranayake, Deraniyagala, Mawanella and Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district and Kothmale West, Kotmale East, Ambagamuwa and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district

LEVEL II [AMBER] Land Slide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Padukka in the Colombo district, Nagoda, Thawalama and Neluwa in the Galle district, Bulathsinhala, Palindanuwara, Walallawita and Agalawatta in the Kalutara district, Ganga Ihala Korale in the Kandy district, Bulathkohupitiya and Kegalle in the Kegalle district, Akuressa and Pitabeddara in the Matara district, Thalawakele in the Nuwara Eliya district and Pelmadulla, Ratnapura, Ayagama, Kuruwita and Ratnapura in the Ratnapura district.

LEVEL I [YELLOW] Land Slide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka in the Colombo district, Niyagama and Baddegama in the Galle district, Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Ingiriya in the Kalutara district, Udapalatha and Yatinuwara in the Kandy district, Galigamuwa, Warakapola and Ruwanwella in the Kegalle district, Kotapola, Pasgoda and Athuraliya in the Matara district, and Eheliyagoda, Kalawana and Elapatha in the Ratnapura district.

News

Development projects can deliver results to the people more quickly when the political authority and the public service work together towards a common goal – PM

Published

15 hours ago

2026/09/20

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that development projects can deliver results to the people more quickly when the political authority and the public service work together towards a common, people-oriented objective.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while participating in a discussion held on Friday [September 18] at the Western Province Council Auditorium to review the progress of the development project to rehabilitate Rathmalana Kandawala Road and the drainage system on either side of the road, within the Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia Municipal Council limits in the Colombo District.

The project, which commenced on September 10, 2026, is scheduled to be completed before June 30, 2027. Implemented by the Provincial Road Development Authority (PRDA), the project includes the construction of a bridge at a cost of Rs. 64 million, the rehabilitation of the drainage system at a cost of Rs. 930 million, and the rehabilitation of the road at a cost of Rs. 115 million.

The Prime Minister also paid special attention to the progress of the responsibilities assigned to the Western Province Council, the Irrigation Department and the Ratmalana Divisional Secretariat in accordance with decisions taken at the previous committee meeting. Attention was also given to the current status of the plans being carried out by the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation (SLLRDC), as well as the construction and maintenance activities being undertaken by the Provincial Road Development Authority (PRDA).

Commending the expedite and commendable progress of the project, the Prime Minister particularly appreciated the commitment demonstrated by officials of the relevant government institutions to work in close coordination with one another and in collaboration with the political authority.

The Prime Minister also emphasised the importance of taking measures well in advance to control flooding and minimise its impact on Colombo and several other districts in view of the rainy weather that may affect the Western Province during the latter part of this year.

The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Colombo District Coordinating Committee and Member of Parliament Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi, Chairperson of the Ratmalana Divisional Coordinating Committee and Member of Parliament Samanmalee Gunasinghe, Chairman of the Roads Sub-Committee of the Colombo District Coordinating Committee Dewananda Suraweera, Mayor of the Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia Municipal Council Parakum Shantha, Chief Secretary of the Western Province K.G. Pradeep Pushpakumara, along with a number of government officials.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]