DEBATE NO-FAITH MOTION AGAINST RAVI TOMORROW: BANDULA

Some United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MPs yesterday urged the Speaker to allow the No-Confidence Motion against Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake to be debated tomorrow (3) without allowing it to lose its value and significance.

UPFAMPBandula Gunawardane said the debate was important because the minister is continuing to act in a manner which was detrimental to the country’s economy.

“We will also urge the Opposition Leader to make provisions to debate the motion when parliament meets tomorrow. The no-confidence motion should be taken up even before matters relating to the Constitutional Council or the 20thAmendment are taken up in parliament,” he told a news conference.

Commenting on Central Bank’s sale of 10-year International Sovereign Bonds at a yield of 6.125 per cent to raise US$650 million, Mr. Gunawardena said the 6.125 p.c. was excessively high and the highest since the end of the war.

“Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa as the then finance minister sold CB bonds to raise USD$1,500 at a yield of 5.125 per cent last year. Mr. Karunanayake at the time charged that Mr. Rajapaksa had received a commission of 2 per cent. If that is so then it appears that the current finance minister

has received a

Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa as the then finance minister sold CB bonds to raise USD$1,500 at a yield of 5.125 per cent last year. Mr. Karunanayake at the time charged that Mr. Rajapaksa had received a commission of 2 per cent. If that is so then it appears that the current finance minister has received a commission of 3 per cent

commission of 3 per cent,” Mr. Gunawardane said. He said investments under the new government had decreased, inflation had sky-rocketed and interest rates increased.

“These are the results of economic mismanagement. This is why we need to debate the no-confidence motion against the finance minister without further delay,” Mr. Gunawardena said said.

Meanwhile, Commenting on the Constitutional Council, UPFA MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara said they had not been informed or updated on the Council’s progress or about its members. He urged that the council be formed in keeping with standard procedures.

Provincial councillor Udaya Gammanpila expressed similar sentiments and opposed the appointment of Ministers Champika Ranawaka and Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe to the Constitutional Council. “The appointees should be parliamentarians and not ministers. This is against the Constitution,” Mr. Gammanpila said.