JO hands over NCM to Speaker

Sixty-four JO parliamentarians sign but Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa not a signatory

Joint Opposition (JO) parliamentarians yesterday handed over a No-Confidence Motion against Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya.

The No-Confidence Motion was signed by 64 MPs, including Ven. Athuraliye Rathana, alleging Bathiudeen had links with several suspects who were arrested in connection with the Easter Sunday attacks.

Representing the JO, MP Udaya Gammanpila handed over the No-Confidence Motion to the Speaker on Thursday morning, at the Speaker’s office in Parliament.

However, Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa had not signed the No-Confidence Motion, and parliamentarians Prasanna Ranathunga and Sanathan Nishantha had faxed their support for the No-Confidence Motion, as they were overseas.

Several MPs of the SLFP breakaway group, including S.B Dissanayake, Thilanga Sumathipala, and Dilan Perera, had signed the motion.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP S. Viyalendrana and United National Party (UNP) MP Ananda Aluthgama, who joined the Rajapaksa camp during the 52 days Constitutional crisis were also among the 64 MPs who had signed for the No-Confidence Motion.

In the motion, the JO stated that Bathiudeen had links with the owner of the Wellampitiya copper factory, which had access to a larger quota of copper casings from the military than other companies under the Industries Development Board (IDA).

The No-Confidence motion also says despite being the leader of a political party, Bathiudeen had failed to voluntarily disclose the information, which the signatories claimed was a violation of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

In the motion, the JO charged that spice merchant Mohamed Ibrahim, the father of the two suspected bombers of the Easter Sunday attacks, had been known to Bathiudeen, and the two were close associates. The motions further stated that a Coordinating Secretary of Bathiudeen had been arrested for being allegedly linked to the attackers.

“A brother of Bathiudeen was arrested by the Army, but after he was handed over to the Police he was released without being produced to courts, due to political pressure,” the motion said. 

JO also claimed that there were reports Bathiudeen had been pressurising the investigation, which raised concerns among society. 

Following the handing over of the No-Confidence Motion, Gammanpila told media they had provided evidence to prove their charges against Bathiudeen. 

“We requested Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to present this No-Confidence Motion for debate in Parliament as soon as possible, and he informed us that he will discuss it with party leaders and respond to our request,” he added. (NS)