UNP sure of defeating No-Confidence Motion with over 120 votes

By Skandha Gunasekara

The UNP was confident of winning the No-confidence motion against the Prime Minister with over 120 votes in their favour, despite there being uncertainty on what stance the minor parties would take.

UNP MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha, addressing a media briefing at Sirikotha yesterday morning (2 April) said that the UNP was confident of having over 120 votes to defeat the NO-Confidence motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe tomorrow (3 April). “We will definitely win the No-Confidence. We have more than 120 votes with us right now and that number may only increase as the date nears.”

He then said that there was a high possibility that several MPs from the Joint Opposition (JO) would vote in favour of the Prime Minister. “Who knows, there’s a good chance that 3 to 4 MPs from the Joint Opposition will vote with us in defeating the No-Confidence motion. Already there’s division within the JO regarding the motion. Just last week, JO MP Gammanpila remarked that it was a victory for the JO regardless of the outcome of the Motion. This shows they have already accepted defeat.”

Meanwhile, Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, charged that the Joint Opposition was engaged in a campaign to destabilise the country. “It was the Prime Minister who insisted that the No-Confidence be taken up in Parliament on April 4, the earliest possible date. If the JO had their way, they would have waited till after the Sinhala and Tamil New year to hold the debate. They want to drag it on because these things affect our economy, particularly the tourism industry and our stock market.”

He then asserted that within three to four days of the No-Confidence debate on 4 April, the reforms in the UNP would be carried out.  “Just days after we defeat the No-Confidence motion, we will carry out the reforms and restructuring in the UNP. The UNP is targeting a win at the 2020 Parliamentary Election,” Minister Kariyawasam said.