TNA informs President it supports UNF Government

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has informed President Maithripala Sirisena that the party will support the restoration of a Government headed by the United National Front (UNF), of which the United National Party (UNP) is the main constituent.

In a letter signed by 14 Parliamentarians of ITAK, the single largest party in TNA, they informed the President that the UNF nominee for Prime Minister will now have the support of 117 MPs.

The party pointed out to the President that MP Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was appointed Prime Minister on 26 October, has not been able to prove that he commands the confidence of Parliament though one month has lapsed since his appointment and the Parliament has met several times during this period.

Furthermore, two no confidence motions against the MP as Prime Minister had been passed in Parliament on 14 and 16 November and confirmed by 122 Members of Parliament.

The TNA lawmakers said the view of the majority of MPs on the issue of whether MP Rajapaksa commands the confidence of Parliament to be the Prime Minister has been negative and has been demonstrated beyond doubt.

The Tamil party said this situation should not continue.

In the circumstances to ensure that a Member of Parliament is able to command the confidence of Parliament as Prime Minister, the MPs of Illankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) said they will support the restoration of a Government headed by the UNF as it existed prior to 26 October.

The letter was signed by TNA leader MP R. Sampanthan, MPs Mavai Senathirajah, M. A. Sumanthiran, D. Sidhathan, S. Shritharan, E. Saravanapavan, Selvam Adaikalanathan, I. Charles Nirmalanathan, Shanthi Sriskandarasa, S. Sivamohan, Seenithamby Yoheswaran, G. Sirineshan, K. Kodeeswaran, and K. Thurairatnesingam.