Speaker conveys message to Prez

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya informed President Maithripala Sirisena last morning that Parliament had unanimously passed a No Confidence Motion against Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and also a letter signed by 122 members expressing their confidence in Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe.

In a statement, Mr Jayasuriya said Parliament was convened at 10.00 AM yesterday (14) on the directive of the Extraordinary Gazette notification issued by President Sirisena on November 04th, reconvening Parliament after prorogation.

After submission of letters and announcements and Parliament resumed day’s business, TNA parliamentary member M.a.sumanthiran proposed to suspend Standing Order and the proposal was passed on majority votes.

After the Standing Orders were suspended accordingly, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath proposed a No Confidence Motion Gainst the government and requested Speaker Jayasuriya to take a vote on the NCM yesterday itself.

At this juncture, the opposition requested a division and accordingly a vote was taken after the quorum bell was rung. After a vote was taken, Speaker Jayasuriya announced that the NCM was passed with a majority vote of Parliamentarians.

Later, Parliamentarian Lakshman Kiriella proposed to adjourn Parliament until 10.00 a.m. today (15)

Speaker Jayasuriya sent a copy of the NCM passed in Parliament yesterday and a motion presented in Parliament with the signature of 122 members saying that the cabinet and the Prime Minister appointed by President was unconstitutional. The two documents were forwarded by Speaker Jayasuriya to President Sirisena for further action according to the Constitution.