19 March, 2024

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No-Confidence Motion: SLFP, JHU And TNA Hold Cards Close To Chests

Ten days to the debate on the motion of no-confidence against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) remain undecided.

Wickremesinghe

The SLFP, the major partner of Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP) in the ‘Yahapalana’ Government, despite much braggadocio over ousting him and forming a new Government immediately after the February 10 election debacle, is yet to state its position. While some senior SLFP ministers have made ambiguous statements which indicate that the party could vote either way, no firm decision has been taken, according to sources close to the party leadership.

The JHU, which contested the August 2015 General Election in a coalition with the UNP, similarly is said to be ‘watching the situation within the UNP closely,’ and has not announced its stand. JHU Leader Patali Champika Ranawaka, for example, has predicted that the motion was bound to fail, but said that there’s a lot of wrongs that need to be righted through ‘a reform package for economic, social and political reform.’

Possibly referring to the leadership crisis in the UNP, Ranawaka said ‘we have to bring in those young, who have the expertise to put matters right; simply clinging on to existing positions and ignoring realities will be a serious mistake.’

While the TNA too has remained silent on the matter, sources close to Wickremesinghe are confident that they will not side with the Joint Opposition (JO), at worse choosing to abstain from voting.

The JVP has stated that it will support the motion. Interestingly, however, only 50 of the 54 MPs who are officially with the JO have signed the motion. On the other hand only a little over 80 of the 106 UNP MPs signed a letter supporting their leader.

There is also speculation that newly sworn-in Minister of Law and Order Ranjith Madduma Bandara could be the new Prime Minister in the event that the motion passes and Wickremesinghe chooses to resign. According to the 19th Amendment a vote of no-confidence has no binding effect on the position of the Prime Minister.

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Latest comments

  • 34
    10

    RW,
    nothing can happened to you. You made efforts.
    But in the system prevailed in the country, they prefer HIGHLY corrupted to less corrupted.

    It was a mistake to allow bond scam, but that can happen also in Germany, UK or any other highly develped world.

    However, the sum they assure to keep while Rajapakshe s b illions going up to 4000 are fully lost, who would work on them ?

    Folks are made to believe in favour of Rajapakshe for war victory, They would e ven let Rajapakshes rape them volunatarily… so re average lankens.. that stupid by their behaviours.

    I think it is high time, RW to leave lanken abusive politics and let IDIOTS to ruin this nation .. and turn it to be an another somalia.

    I hate our folks for one reasons, they dont just go after HIGHLY abusive Rajapakshes.

    • 6
      2

      It should be I hate our folks for one reason,they dont care but go after HIGHLY abusive Rajapakshe rascals.

    • 8
      0

      Sri Lankans have a memory problem. When they are not satisfied with what they have, they are willing, and even longing for crooks of the past, forgetting the white vans, journalists killed, threatened, harassed, and fearing for their lives, the unsolved murders, big time nepotism, brats of these sleazy politicians money laundering, and obtaining fake degrees, and the seizing of homes and property, from Sri Lankans..

      We should also blame the present lot for incompetence, and not being able to deliver. Don’t we have decent politicians, who can lead without all the selfish intentions, but put the country first? No.

    • 1
      11

      Desperate Sinhalaya,

      “RW to leave lanken abusive politics and let IDIOTS to ruin this nation .. and turn it to be an another somalia”

      RW leaving politics is the best thing that can happen to the country. Over the last three years he did nothing but pleasing the agents of ‘Regime Change Project’ (Tamil Diaspora, Uncle Sam, Hindia, TNA) giving him the chance to become the PM. He did not do a damn thing to tackle the problems of the people in the country. RW ruined the economy of the country which was growing around 7% per annum during previous Government. Now it is 3.1%.

      • 5
        1

        Give us alternatives man , just being hateful to RW cant bring us forward

        Do you think Premadasa with his 0 knowledge not second to Sakkiliya Rajapakshe would be able to represent us to the world ?

        Never –
        We want to see Rajaakshes out of our sights basta

        They looted and rooted to all depths should be made clear to the nation even if many are on Punnakku even today.

    • 3
      6

      Desperate Sinhalaya,

      4000 Billions? How on earth did you arrive on that figure? Do you expect that we should also believe in fairy tales as you do?

      Desperate Sinhalaya if Mahinda had robbed 4000 billions, why it is so hard to bring him to the book? How many years would you like to continue this farce? There should be a limit to lying.

      • 5
        0

        Shenal, you woul dnot see it in this life.

        Your comments prove it to even 10 year olds.

        Please be on your mode – which back licking of Rajapakshe rascals who looted it to the core.

        Please see alone the debts deliberately made by the ballige puth et al – by loading eeven their pets to Rome and US trips. remember ? 1 trip alone costed state – poor tax payers few millions of lanken currency

        2000 Dollars x 250 = 500 000 – alone here 0.5 Million US dollars – in local currency that would make – 150 x 0.5 = 75 millions of rupees, How many times the bugger took ponnaya weerawanse et al plus any village henchmane of the bugger to his entourages ?

        Please be informed Shenal, evne if you dont seem to have a brain the size of a needle head.
        All these are stopped today.
        But current duo has been attacked why ?

    • 7
      1

      And we perfectly know very same media men, have no whatsoever feeling about 4000 billions that Rajapakshe family should be accoutable for.. during their high days to have abused lanken aircrafts and other assets thinking that they were all their family properties.

      This man Rajapakshe should be interviewed as to why the bugger took plane loads of his crimianl gangs whenever foreign trips were made. Whose money was that ?
      Today, both duo would never abuse them, but still they have been attacked.
      Bond scam is an issue, but in the same time, other higher crimes should also be pointed out by the same idiotic all stupid MEDIA men… why things seem to be stagnated in terms of Rajapakshe crimes ?

      SIMPLE ANSWER IS MEDIA MAFIA RUN BY RAJAPAKSHE RASCALS: Sirasa is only one sided by being proxy Premadasa and Sirisena.

    • 6
      1

      Today head lines say – President abolishes PM led Economic Committees

      but very same president STAND on the way when LAW AND ORDER minister should have been MOST able man in current day poltiics, war won saviour of the nation Sarath Fonseka.
      Why ?
      It is simply to save Rajapakshes. Please president leave us and go home.
      Even if you would have been put under meters down the earth, your rascals should not BE protect that way. BASTA:

    • 4
      3

      2 idiots are already running the country! Can’t you spot them? MS and RW

  • 4
    8

    There is nothing to watch. IT is all manipulationand exploitation all the politicians. IT is just recycling of the same old theives. Eventhe stupid commentators are scolding Rajapskes and their govt. YEt, they don’t blame Ranil who gave a proimse for prosecuting them. It is completely, including corrupt and crappy media, simply vultuers dominating the country. No conmfidence is a joke. this article is a joke and good for those do o thaver anything else to do. govt calmed long ago, by hook or crook they would contiue until 2020. So, it is happening. It looks both Ranil and MY3 are at the end of the term. Bond scam dashed Ranil’s PResidential ambitions. I think MY3 is now chaging the side and is ganging up with Rajapakses to fight another cabinet post whether it is president or PM. SO, journalist OSTHARS who write for the GAL arrack, Pol Arrack bottle, Car loan or for the free Lap top bring various hair splitting arguments, when the requirement is beinging a completely a new team. Because, there is no point of argying about the same old thieves. some are escapong the law because they are the law makers.

  • 13
    1

    what we need is a new president, a compltely new one, not the same old thieves, eventually, no 100s of advicers, 100 of ministers, 45 or more national list MPs,. 95 or more MOS who cannot take an educated decision or provide educated contributuion when a legisltion is passed. Sri lanka has so many unemployed gradiates and there is no need of 225. It can make easily.

  • 11
    3

    His dress in the modern suit tell all about his character, where can be more trusted compared to other roughs who are plentiful in our parliament.. Is he wearing a prith nula fool the people, I wonder?

  • 7
    0

    In a vote of no confidence, individual decision making is vital so MPs should not be deterred by the party solidarity & personal interests.

    Such an attempt by a party to have a control over MPs decision making is detrimental to democratic traditions.

    We can see a serious moral degradation of almost all the political parties in these days as they’re going to make a team effort to face no confidence motion.

  • 5
    12

    The SLFP, JHU and the TNA (yeah, the same guys who were the spokespeople for the terrorist LTTE) are probably holding out for more money.

    • 11
      2

      mangala ,,.

      ” … are probably holding out for more money.”

      Money talks, money votes, and that is precise what happened in the election of the mayor of Negombo Municipal Council.

    • 2
      1

      mangala

      “TNA (yeah, the same guys who were the spokespeople for the terrorist LTTE) “

      You are right.
      Didn’t LTTE have its own spokespersons, Tamil Selvan, Yogi, Anton Balasingam,. Karuna, KP, ………………. ?

      This time around the JVP terrorists’ former spokesperson Dr Mahinda seems to be working on the opposite side of the JVP.
      Its strange.

  • 7
    0

    Some advice for MPs yet to decide on the no confidence motion

    Consider which party or grouping is going to come out on top.
    Consider also which leader might end up leading any particular party.
    Remember some leaders may just be stop gaps, like Putin’s Prime Minister.
    Call in any favours.
    Hedge your bets but don’t commit yourself too far.
    For God’s sake don’t think of the masses and what is best for them – we are relying on you to remain consistent.

    • 1
      0

      If the present Prime Minister annonces that the next law and order Minister will be Mr. Sarath Fonseka and the present law and order minister will be the prime minister every one supporting the no confidence will gauge to see how far is the engagement of the motion to pull it back

    • 4
      0

      This particular Motion is deliberately made without the name of mafia king is to send a message that they can do lot more if NEW courts would be brought to isolate the vicious men.
      Acutually my wish is them to be sunken at once I mean entire JO men and women, so that we then no need any courts or any more funds to be spent to CHARGE them:

  • 5
    0

    When the head of the Cabinet and the Government is the President, how can any sane person vote to kick the Prime Minister out? What has the President delivered to us since he became the President with all powers still resting with him. He promised so much and he is the one who is protecting and working underhand with Mara and Gota.

  • 1
    0

    Yes I agree MPs and ministers of these parties may be holding out for more bribe money, and security of their jobs and opportunity for scamming while sitting as ministers. These are not the pious, but simply jumping frogs waiting to see which side has a greater density of MERU (the flies) that frogs love to eat! TNA MPs were recently given 2 crores each under the guise of local development by RW, which they quiet;y banked in their personal bank accounts. They want a repeat of that but probably multiplied. Obviously they all know that Ranil knows where all the Bank Robbery proceeedings are kept ……….. certainly the signature collector of the UNP knows, so they are waiting until Ranils shoes and bottom get hot and no longer support his cool. Have you guys heard the poem…
    “Mus katiyak gath ukusaku ahase’
    Mus nodaemuwahoth ukusangen waenasey” …… credits to Lowaeda Sangaraawa.
    Transliteration:
    Suppose an eagle flying away in the sky with a moresl of flesh (meat) in his beak
    If he does not drop it, he will be destroyed by other eagles (i.e. by eagles that are chasing after the same morsel of flesh).
    This is Ranil’s fate, the thieving eagle, and the other politcians waiting for the chance with the mottos ………… RW you are doomed, share your loot or else.!!!

    • 2
      1

      thrishu

      You are at it again.

      “TNA MPs were recently given 2 crores each under the guise of local development by RW, which they quiet;y banked in their personal bank accounts. “

      Don’t the other 200 odd MP’s receive some kind of development funds regularly allocated to them from the centre?

      Does it matter how much each one of them get in real terms, compare to what the ministers in the Centre and Provincial Councils steal from treasury?

      Please find out how much did the clan steal from the treasury in their 10 years of misrule.

      • 0
        1

        Well F-V I have not paid by any parties as you have been by UNP to become their Goebelles. I can say what I like but you won’t like it, so you just cross the road and stay on that side, wasted space.

  • 4
    1

    Ranil,
    You need not worry. This is a desperate attempt to oust by some corrupted and disappointed politicians. I know you can bounce over it. The no-confidence is bound to fail.

  • 3
    0

    Ranil wickrmasinghe’s only burning issue when he came to this govt was to tamper with the 18th amendment and make th PM omnipotent only with respect to his survivial. So, he can not be expelled or prosecuted even though he is the instogatoe of a humomgous Bank Fraud and three banks are bankrupt. So the cooked up a8th ment now called 19th amendment doe snot a no-confidence motion to expel the PM. So, what is happing, RAcist attacks or killing the sinhala driveer by muslims, Local elections trying to selelct a new governing party and presient or PM in the parliament are all tower hall drama. When Maithipala sirisena came he did not have any direction. for some time he was fighting his own survivial from Mahinda rajapakse’s tricks. there after he had to survive from Ranil;s trick who is targetting to be PResident. Any, govt has no money because of that except building the walkaway over the road some where in Colombo, for everything they say no. corruptions is rampant as usual. Every one is doing their projects and are getting lonas. So did Ranil his Finance ministry which did the same thibng. Sri lakna is developed what only needs is policy changes or route changed by some educated people. but, in Sri lanka the experts are politicians and they do no knowwht to do but these idiots need to provide news to the media. So it goes on.

  • 2
    1

    Sri lanka’s economic policy is from IMF/MSS/Evangelical church. Because if we ask ammrrica they say we don’t do that. All the developed countries brings things and say, we can change every in this country and make this country the commercial center is Asia and they want to sell things, they want to send things here. What ever we developed they say let us se, we also havve something similar to that and theey want to take it away. So, lot goes on. AS ammeerica is not doing anything, CPA or NGOs are not doing anything, any foreign countries in Colombo are not doing anything,. IT is the Evangelical church which all these thinbgs. they say women’s right to buy liquor is a right, boys going out with boys is a right, I think, right now, there is an article in CT from some young guy he talks all thise and there are many such articles. Ammerrica says Evangelical church is not ours.

  • 0
    0

    We have to understand that proposed no-Confidence motion against UNP leader and Primer has no way to survival in politically ,which that Ranil W….has to resigned and quite earliest possible date?
    The political and economic crisis so in depth , it has gone to the level of catastrophe new edge of every ends by changing for another wave of crisis political in Sri lanka?
    Therefor crisis is look at of neo-Liberalism of crony Capitalism of range of UNP policies is moving backward, since 2015 January 8th. The 40 years of beginning of 1977 UNP -JRJ set of policies are failure to address by current puppet regime. Not single pills are answers to ongoing ills of globalization of sustsnsbility of capitalism Lanka by UNP old-orthodoxies treatments for our island?

    Meanwhile current UNP leadership of MS and RW are lacking vision of political solutions any of ills that challenging our system of democracies last 38 months since 2015 January 8th?

    The crux of matter is nation survival of existence has come every sphere of life that all nationalities and people of Sri Lankan has come turning point. Its moving faster than expectation of people.
    The brewing several crisis together at once been threaten by mismanaging and misrule by current regime compelled to shifted another level? By led by MS of President ,RW of Primer and CBK is one of the chief arctichier of federalist SLFP of puppet govt.in power.
    No govt.funcation at all. Necessary steps has not taken by President, he moving around the world in oversees trips ,members of chambers are in oversees trips by cost of tax payers .
    The People majority that daily needs not looking after by any enforcement authorities .Or either ruling parties in power of politics. That is how things around the country?
    No confidence motion is timely needed that very best interest of our people, regardless it win or lost matter does not of important to the People!
    Crux of matter of is restoration of Democracy rule in our soil by right political line of vision of sustainability of democratic Capitalism ?

  • 1
    1

    MAhinda Rajapakse knew, since 2013, Sri lankan economy was not expanding and there was trouble, he di dnot know to fix. So, he got help from Kerala Kovil, muslims mosques in Nuwara eliya and it did not work. Even Pope could not help except letting some money deposited in the Vatican bank. buddha never promsie liberation to GReed. So, buddhist is uselss here. what sri lanka needs is a policy change. Ranil brought even the Tamil economic expert who was chased out, IO heard now he is in Los angles. There is a hoo ha which says, if sinhala people dance too much declare emergency and shoot below the knee. Who can prosecute law makers in Sri lanka. Ranil knows the out come of the No-cofidence. So, on the chair he is thinking his next move.

  • 3
    0

    Will at least now, TNA negotiate a deal for the release of prisoners, release of land, demilitarisation, and for the list of persons of enforced disappearances, devolution to the NPC, with a timeline, as a minimum before deciding to vote or not.

    Speak for the Tamil people, and don’t use their shoes to defend the government.

  • 0
    0

    who ever win or loose this political musical chair game is not good for the country financially .one more if in case ranil resign after the voting all members whether UNP OR SLFP OR JO all will start fighting for minister positions.poor public they are the loosing party at the end.

  • 0
    0

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  • 2
    0

    If Ranil wins, Maithri will be in a very embarrassing situation. Mahinda will ensure that Ranil wins so that he will be safe till the next Presidential to call the shots then.

  • 0
    0

    This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/

  • 1
    2

    If changing the PM the solution, then why didn’t they charge MR of corruption, Gota of murder, frauds, expose all fraudsters in the parliament? Only those with clear record deserve to oust PM. It is the idle minds, like that of WR, Chatura, MR, MS etc. who would think in passing and NCM, and not those who actually work.

    RW must keep the head up and face these idiots with courage.

    • 0
      0

      They did charge MR, Gota and the rest. That’s how they formed a government. As per your theory, no one from parliament ever will be ousted or punished for their wrongdoings. If he had an ounce of courage he would not be in politics for 40 years with such a track record. But you’ve got to hand it to him for his perseverance.

  • 7
    2

    Ranil for God’s sake leave, majority are sick of seeing you. You already celebrated a useless 40 years in politics and 2 days ago your 69th birthday what a waste of tax-payers money.

    – last week I was visiting a friend in the Central Province, while my friend and I were chatting it was around 6.30 PM, then we heard a street vendor shouting POLOS, POLOS he must be in his mid or late forties, then I said to my friend at this hour the poor chap should be sitting with his family is still toiling to provide for his loved ones, this is the plight of an average citizen – Here you’re celebrating!. – you’ve proved to be a good for nothing man. Your continued presence will only embolden the Imperialists and one day we will not have a country to live.

  • 0
    0

    This is the best country has. The rot of the rot.

  • 2
    1

    In Geneva and Italy me, Godahewa, Yahampath and Darshana we acted to show to Sri Lankan modayas. Tamils did hard work but we had a pukka time with wine, whisky and sex. All at Sinhala expatriate expense including our hotel bills. We will do this again in Septmeber. Cherio.

    • 1
      0

      And we will send more money to Channel 4 and Surendran to fake evidence against the Sri Lanka modayas.

  • 3
    2

    Either way the JO win.. get Ranil out or if RW pulls through.. it is guaranteed he will further screw up resulting in the UNP being even weaker in the next elections.

    Karma is a wonderful thing..isint it yahapalians???

  • 0
    0

    All steps of political moving and policies adopted by UNP are that revenging taking against majority poorest people of Islanders by leadership UNP-SLFP
    so-called coalition govt. since 2015 ? They shatter all promised in 2015 !

    In fact UNP rules are not only looters they plundering wealth of our nation jointly collaboration with SLFP, MC ,and Tamil progressives members in ruling parties govt.
    By TNA and JVP backing to current ongoing govt. that revenging taken of steps as so-called legal oppositions …..to current “good governances?.”

    Well, democracy rule by political vandalism and an open eye any one see that money become decisive factors of decision making politics & policies at chamber of Parliamentary ‘s democracy !@
    People sovereignty no longer work at inside and out side which that among the members of Chambers? Political solutions are far from our vision.
    This is live example of tragedy of democracy of crony Capitalism after 70 years of Independence in Sri lanka ………since 1948?

  • 0
    0

    In a ‘constitutional sense’ a no-confidenence motion in Parliament seems to be the only available option to oust Wickremasinghe from his post as PM of the Country. It seems also a national embarassment that he manages to get about seemingly pretending to ignore his predicament ; . whether he wins the motion or not in Parliament he has lost the confidence of the people. Is it too late for him to step down, if not to save his face, but to save the Country from this embarassment?

    • 2
      1

      Chandra

      “In a ‘constitutional sense’ a no-confidenence motion in Parliament seems to be the only available option to oust Wickremasinghe from his post as PM of the Country.”

      How about impeachment? Haven’t you heard of it?
      Maybe the National hangman Dr Gota (DSc) could consider replicating a Lasantha incident. He might desperately need a volunteer. Please contact him.

  • 3
    0

    Just trying to make SF law and order minister brought in the no-confidence motion by Rajapaksa and his cronies. If SF got the portfolio we would have seen skin in turmeric garment on the street..

  • 1
    0

    “No-Confidence Motion: SLFP, JHU And TNA Hold Cards Close To Chests”
    Indeed!!……Indeed………..Indeed
    SLFP is wagging its tails because of the wafting scent of the “Leader of the Pack”
    JHU is looking sombre wondering if that elusive winning combination will ever come
    TNA is holding the cards close to the chest but in the wrong direction for everyone to see

  • 0
    1

    JHU and TNA will definitively vote for RW. JVP will abstain if the Opposition is gathering momentum since they know that what damage MR has done to the Country. Double tongue SLFP ers has to go the place they belong (whether they’re welcome is the problem). Decent SLFPers like Sarath A, Duminda D, Wijithamuni, Mahinda S will vote for RW.100Rs Gommanpila, Viagra Vimal, Shiral l, Maithri G and SAK Kili Maharaja will have to eat their words.

  • 0
    0

    JHU and TNA will definitively vote for RW. JVP will abstain if the Opposition is gathering momentum since they know that what damage MR has done to the Country. Double tongue SLFP ers has to go the place they belong (whether they’re welcome is the problem). Decent SLFPers like Sarath A, Duminda D, Wijithamuni, Mahinda S will vote for RW.100Rs Gommanpila, Viagra Vimal, Shiral l, Maithri G and SAK Kili Maharaja will have to eat their words.

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