No-Confidence Motion against Speaker an option: JO

By Skandha Gunasekara

Moving a No-Confidence Motion against Speaker Karu Jayasuriya was an option for the Joint Opposition (JO), JO Parliamentarian Keheliya Rambukwella said yesterday.

MP Rambukwella told the Daily FT that there was ample material to move a No-Confidence Motion against the Speaker, including the allegation that the Speaker had failed to recognise the JO as the main Opposition in Parliament.  

“We have enough and more material that can be used to support a No-Confidence Motion in the Parliament. When the Provincial Council Elections (amendment) bill was presented before Parliament for a vote, the Speaker delayed proceeding for over an hour just so that the Government could gather their numbers in the House. There have been various cases of such bias by the Speaker since he was elected to the Chair,” Rambukwella said.  He said that while a No-Confidence Motion was an option, the numbers to support the Motion must be taken into account as well.

“The current Speaker is one of the most biased and partisan Speakers I have witnessed. However, before even thinking of bringing a No-Confidence Motion, we must consider the numbers we have in the House to support such a Motion,” he added. Meanwhile, Joint Opposition parliamentary group leader MP Dinesh Gunawardana told the Daily FT that the JO had submitted an official request to the Speaker, requesting that the JO be recognised as the main Opposition group in Parliament. “We submitted the official request to recognise us as the main Opposition in Parliament on Wednesday. We have the largest group in the Opposition with a total of 70 MPs. We expect the Speaker to make an announcement on the matter on 7 August when Parliament meets next,” MP Gunawardana said.

In addition, he said the JO would be conducting two protests against the Government, including a demonstration today. “The Joint Opposition will hold a picketing opposite the National Eye Hospital on 2 August. We will also be having a mass protest on 5 September to protest against the Government and several other issues facing the Nation, such as the rising cost of living, burden of high taxes and the sale of National assets to foreign entities,” he added.