Parliamentarians Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, and the group of 11 political parties have decided to support the No-Confidence Motion against the government that will be tabled by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.
MP Gammanpila accordingly stated that the No-Confidence Motion will receive the support of 120 Members of Parliament.
MP Gammanpila speaking at a media briefing today said attempts to obtain signatures of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna MPs in support of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa only garnered 46 signatures.
He said 113 signatures are required in order to pass the No-Confidence Motion, adding that absolute certainty is required that the Motion will be passed when a No-Confidence Motion is tabled.
MP Gammanpila said they requested the SJB to grant them time in order to confirm the 113 MPs who will support the Motion.
He said the opposition had 65 MPs and 42 government MPs became independent while three MPs among them took on posts of the government, resulting in 104 MPs.
He added that subsequently, 10 government MPs in a written statement called for the establishment of an interim all-party government and for the current government to step down, resulting in 114 MPs support.
He revealed that the three MPs, representing the opposition, who pledged their support to the government during the vote on the 20th Amendment to the Constitution also defected government support, leading to 117 MPs supporting this bid.
MP Gammanpila said MPs Nalaka Godahewa, Dullas Alahapperuma, and Charitha Herath also called for the government to step down in public statements, bringing total support to 120 MPs.
The Parliamentarian also claimed that there are more government MPs who have not made known their stance yet, and assured there are more individuals among them who want the current government to step down.
MP Gammanpila added if the government doesn’t step down, the No-Confidence Motion against the government will be tabled this week.
