Motion of no confidence

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardena says the government parliamentary group will defeat the no-faith motion moved by the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) against Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila over the increasing of fuel prices on June 11.

Foreign Minister Gunawardena, who is also the leader of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, said that government members wouldn’t be deceived by various strategies pursued by the SJB and other Opposition groups. The Minister said so at an event in Maharagama, where coconut saplings were distributed among the public.

The two-day debate followed by a vote is scheduled to be held today (19) and tomorrow. The no-faith motion is the first moved by the SJB against the government since last October. The SJB group comprises 54 lawmakers while one of its seven National List members, Diana Gamage has already pledged her support to the SLPP. She voted for the 20th Amendment in Oct last year and the Colombo Port Economic Commission Bill on May 20th.

Minister Gunawardena gave the assurance three weeks after SLPP General Secretary Attorney-at-law Sagara Kariyawasam MP, demanded the resignation of lawyer Gammanpila over the fuel price hikes. Lawmaker Kariyawasam faulted minister Gammanpila over

the increase in fuel prices whereas the latter explained it was a decision taken by the Cost of Living Committee chaired by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on June 09 and approved on the following day, in writing by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksha, in his capacity as the Finance Minister.

Since then Basil Rajapaksa has entered parliament on the National List and succeeded Mahinda Rajapaksa as the finance Minister. Basil Rajapaksa re-entered parliament on July 08.

Minister Gunawardena said that as the government consisted of several political parties they took different stands on matters of importance. However, they would work together as members of the government parliamentary group to thwart political projects launched by the Opposition against it.

Minister Gunawardena said that the government wouldn’t be distracted by Opposition strategies. The government parliamentary group comprised 145 members with the largest section being the SLPP. The SLPP consisted of 116 members whereas the SLFP group comprised 14 members and the National Freedom Front 06 members and other partners several seats among them.

Minister Gammanpila told The Island that since the eruption of the controversy over the fuel price hikes as he repeatedly pointed out there was no other option other than upward revision of fuel prices or had to face the consequences. The minister said that he was glad the issue at hand attracted public attention to the extremely dicey financial situation. The minister pointed out that no less a person than President Gotabaya Rajapaksa acknowledged the daunting challenge facing the country in meeting annual loan repayment amounting to USD 4 bn and the crisis caused by the CPC and CEB being in debt to the Bank of Ceylon and People’s Bank to the tune of Rs 737 bn.

Minister Gammanpila emphasized that both petrol and diesel were being sold at a loss at the moment and downward revision was not realistic. Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader stood his ground in spite of heavy attacks on him by some members of the SLPP.

Meanwhile, now facing certain defeat at the vote on first no faith motion moved by the SJB against the government, the Opposition over the weekend met under the joint leadership of Sajith Premadasa, MP, and former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya at Janaki Hotel where they discussed how the Opposition could move forward.

Former Speaker Jayasuriya, in his speech explained how the people were deprived of democratic gains made by the 19th Amendment to the Constitution by the enactment of the dictatorial 20th Amendment by the Rajapaksa administration.

One-time UNP Deputy Leader and minister in Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government addressed the gathering in his new capacity as the Chairperson of the NMSJ (National Movement for Social Justice), the brainchild of the late Maduluwawe Sobitha thera.

UNP leader and its only MP Ranil Wickremesinghe was represented by Deputy Leader of the UNP Ruwan Wijewardene, who stressed the importance of the Opposition reaching consensus on a common agenda.

TNA representative M.A. Sumanthiran, MP, warned that their support to the Opposition project would depend on a clear assurance given by them as regards the national issue. The President’s Counsel said that in spite of them working with the Opposition, their cause had been betrayed and an assurance was nothing but a prerequisite for their support.