No-confidence motion against Ravi K handed over

• Motion contains 32 Joint Opposition signatures 

By Ashwin Hemmathagama

The UPFA Joint Opposition group submitted a no-confidence motion against Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake yesterday. 

The motion contained 32 signatures obtained from Joint Opposition members who demand action against Minister Karunanayake for alleged misconduct while occupying the office of the Minister of Finance.

Deputy Secretary General of Parliament and Chief of Staff Neil Iddawala received the motion in the absence of Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, who was away taking part in a religious ceremony held at Independence Square. Lawmaker Bandula Gunawardena led the Joint Opposition group who handed over the motion, which will be passed on to the Speaker today. 

Based on the Speaker’s decision the motion could be included in the Order Book and will be taken up after seven days. However, the decision to allow a debate will depend on the views of party leaders. 

As per parliamentary practice, when a no-confidence motion is presented against a Minister or a Member of Parliament it receives priority over other business scheduled for the Government’s time allocation.