The group of independent MPs from the government have called on the opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) to respond to certain queries on the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) submitted against the incumbent government.
In a joint letter dated 4th May 2022, the independent MPs called on SJB Leader, Sajith Premadasa to inform the party’s alternative plan in the event the No-Confidence Motion is passed in Parliament with the support of the independent group.
Questioning if Premadasa had an alternative plan for the governance of the country once the government is defeated through the proposed NCM, the group noted that there were two options for the SJB to choose from at present.
Following are the two options proposed by the group of independent MPs:
- Join the proposed framework for an all-party national consensus government that has been accepted by the Mahanayake Theros, religious leaders, professional organizations, business community, trade unions, and youth activists;
- The SJB to take over the government after defeating the incumbent government at the NCM vote since the SJB has expressed its unwillingness to work with other political parties. (The dissidents’ group would sit in the opposition and extend critical support in such a scenario)
Stating that pushing the country into an anarchical situation is worse than the government being held by one of the worst administrations, the group added that such a situation could have an adverse impact on the country when the government is engaged in a process to restructure loans and to obtain loans to purchase essential commodities.
“All this will come to a standstill if the country is pushed into anarchy,” they added.
The independent MPs further said that while the government through its economic mismanagement had brought about the current economic crisis, the government has so far failed to propose a viable solution to address the crisis and has therefore lost the confidence of a majority of the country.
“We believe that the government should therefore resign or should be removed,” the group stressed.
The letter was handed over to the Opposition Leader’s office today (5) signed by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) independent group, the group of 10 (G-10) governing alliance leaders, and an independent MP. (NewsWire)
