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Thursday Sep 19, 2024
Tuesday, 10 February 2015 00:26 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Q: What are your remarks about the no confidence motion against you?
A: There is nothing to say. They have presented it. It will go to the Order Paper. The Business Committee of Parliament will decide what to do with it.
I am ready to answer. The charges are frivolous. It does not warrant a no confidence motion at all. This is a normal incident where a brawl has taken place between members of a Pradeshiya Sabha. Although they were hospitalised, the medical reports say they were minor injuries. The police have arrested six people who have been there. They were produced before courts and the case is pending.
Q: Are you denying you have any involvement in this incident?
A: I absolutely have no connection in this matter. I was received at the Kerawalapitiya junction. Soon after the election they wanted to have a normal reception. After delivering my speech, I asked the people to peacefully disperse. Then I went home. After two hours, there had a council meeting where they fought inside. How can they say I was involved?
Q: There is evidence that people who attacked PS Chairman was present at the function you attended?
A: There were members of the Pradeshiya Sabha of the UNP who were there for the reception. After that reception, they all went into the meeting. During the meeting there had been an argument, which later led to an attack.
Q: Do you agree the speech you made was provocative?
A: There is no truth in that. In my speech I asked them to peacefully disperse. Anyone can watch the video and see whether what I have said was provocative or not. These are all fabrications.
Q: Don’t you feel this incident has had a bad impression on your Government, especially its 100-day program?
A: No, I do not agree with that. The whole problem is that the PA Vice Chairman and another member who were not allowed to come to the council on the previous occasions have gone and sat in the Chairman’s seat and conducted the meeting, not our people.
How can I be responsible for anything? I went home after the reception. They may have had other reasons that prompted them to argue and assault. How can I be responsible? The only thing I can do is tell the Police to take action against those who have committed any offense.
The Opposition is trying to find excuses because we are carrying out investigations against members of the previous Government. They might be thinking of reprimanding me for telling the Police to proceed with the different investigations on crime and corruption against them.
I strongly believe that this is not a case for a no confidence motion. There is a fight with minor injuries. They say the Police did not take adequate action. Are these grounds for a no confidence motion?
Q: Are you worried that 114 opposition MPs have signed the no faith motion?
A: That is a matter between the Prime Minister, President and the Leader of the Opposition. They will have a discussion and come to some understanding. It has to go to the Order Paper. In the Order Paper, the Business Committee will decide on whether they are taken up or not.
Q: If the Opposition wins the no-faith motion, will you resign?
A: To win, they must bring it before the Parliament. That might not happen at all. In three months’ time, there is dissolution in any case. The Prime Minister has made a statement saying if the Opposition tries to bring this up, he will request the President to dissolve Parliament.
Q: What is the UNP’s stand on this matter?
A: Even the party said this is a usual brawl that has taken place and there are no severe injuries. Whoever who has caused injuries will be brought before the court of law. The facts are quite straightforward; there is no necessity for an inquiry.
There are heaps and heaps of complaints that are coming in all against the former ministers, secretaries and local government members relating to corruption, which are under consideration. These are the reasons that are hurting the Opposition members. Though I am the Minister, it is Police that conducts investigations, finds who is responsible and takes necessary action.
