The Opposition’s attempt to debate the motion expressing displeasure over the President was blocked in Parliament today by the Government.
TNA MP Sumanthiran proposed to suspend the Parliament Standing Orders to take up the motion expressing displeasure over the President as a matter of urgency.
Sumanthiran’s proposal was seconded by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Lakshman Kiriella.
Leader of the House Minister Dinesh Gunawardena opposed the move and requested a vote to stop the proposal.
Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that the motion can be debated at a later date without suspending the standing orders.
The opposition’s proposal was then put to a vote where the Government defeated the proposal.
The Government secured 119 votes, while the opposition obtained 68 votes.
New Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe also voted with the Government to defeat the proposal.
The Motion expressing displeasure over the President was submitted to Parliament by the opposition, Samagi Jana Balawegaya.
It was initially submitted as a No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa but was later amended to the Motion expressing displeasure over the President.
It was amended on the directive of the Speaker of the House Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, due to conflict over the wording of the motion.
The SJB had submitted the motion in line with the calls of the public for the resignation of the President and his government over the piling crises in Sri Lanka. (NewsWire)
