19 March, 2024

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Ranil Wins The Day, JO Consolidates, Maithri Slips Even Further, Govt Loses 2/3rds Majority

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe comfortably survived the vote of no-confidence brought against him by the Joint Opposition (JO) a short while ago. A total of 78 MPs supported the motion while 122 voted against it. Twenty six MPs were not present at the time the vote was taken.

Although both the JO and the UNP had claimed that victory was assured for the respective positions they took, uncertainty prevailed throughout the day after the debate on the motion commenced at 10 this morning.

Senior SLFPer and State Minister A.H.M. Fowzie dropped a bombshell claiming that the party had decided to vote against the motion. However, State Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena refuted Fowzie, insisting that the party had decided to support the motion consequent to a meeting held at the residence of Minister Mahinda Amaraweera.

The Tamil National Alliance, whose position was unclear since it was reported that the constituent parties would decide separately how to vote, finally opted to vote against the motion.

At various points during the afternoon, SLFP MPs who were not with the Joint Opposition pledged to vote for the motion, notably S.B. Dissanayake, Dayasiri Jayasekera and Susantha Punchinilame. Meanwhile one of the first to moot a no confidence motion against Wickremesinghe, Palitha Range Bandara of the UNP, declared that he would vote against it. Wijedasa Rajapaksha (another UNPer who has made negative comments on the party leadership) voted against the motion while UNP National List MP Rev Athureliye Rathana Thero absented himself at the time the vote was taken. The JVP, one of the most vocal supporters of the Yahapalana project, finally broke ranks by voting with the JO.

The result considerably enhances the parliamentary strength of the Joint Opposition while weakening further President Sirisena’s hold on the SLFP.

The overall implications of the result on the political arrangement in the country is yet unclear. However, Rajitha Senaratne who has backed Wickremesinghe has stated that the UNP will form a ‘a new unity government on Monday with support from the SLFP and other parties’.

Whether the SLFP will back a UNP-led Government is unclear at the moment. The TNA, which has 16 MPs has not indicated that it would be part of such a government. As such it is likely that Wickremesinghe would have to form a minority government whose stability will depend on the TNA continuing to use parliamentary numbers to protect the UNP from moves such as this no confidence motion.

In any event, the government has lost the two-thirds majority it enjoyed when the SLFP and UNP came together to form the first ‘unity government’ in the country’s history.

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Latest comments

  • 1
    0

    Immediately after the countrywide “Tour” of the “CIRCUS” (Local Govt. Elections) another “CIRCUS” named “NCM” was brought to the capital city, Colombo and was staged in a building structured to look like an ancient “Rajawasala” – a “Palace” where varying types and breeds of “Acrobats”; “Jokers”; “Vagabonds”; “Criminals”; “Pick- pokets “; numbering 225 of them meet and plan the ways and means of hood winking the people and robbing their (peoples’) ASSETS. The spectators (both here and abroad) would be thinking that the “Circus” was over and curtains came down on April 4th, 2018; but mark my words, IT IS NOT OVER. This “CIRCUS” will continue unless and until PEOPLE make a bold and firm decision to chase away these “Performers” who have been performing (some for two ;three & four decades) the same stale, old stunts over and over and have become a thorn in the eye and never ending tooth ache. Await the NEXT EPISODE in this series of the CIRCUS.

  • 2
    2

    Best outcome for the great majority of the inhabitant population.
    On February 10, they expressed their feelings about Dr Ranil’s Bond Robbers and their underhand dealings with the West to divide the nation into Ethnic Provinces .
    And give them Police Powers and the Control of Land.
    Thereby destroying the unitary nature of the Nation which has continuously existed over two thousand years.
    And the worst of all , to divide the majority inhabitants into Seven Provinces and segregate them into Haves and Have not much Sectors .
    Even the NCM made a lot more Millionaire Members of Parliament who missed out on 34 Million Car Permits.
    And Aloysious’s Santhosams.
    Now Dr Ranil can front up to the 5 Million of the Feb 10 Voters, and tell them how he is going to do the deals directly , which he stitched up with Mr Sambandan , Diaspora Surendran and the UN.
    Bathudeen, Fowzie, Ganeshan ,Hakeem will be sitting on the Podium with Dr Ranil . .
    Will Silly be there like last time ?…

  • 3
    1

    RW please ask MS to resign respectfully….but you have to implement all the promises made in 2015 within the next two years. Otherwise you & your party will be also assigned to the dustbin.

  • 1
    0

    Should you laugh or cry?

    “Former President and MP Mahinda Rajapaksa said the defeat of the No-Confidence Motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is also a victory.”

    If you actually passed grade 8 you would have known that you were losing.
    “”First we had only 54 votes. However, this was increased to 76 during the vote,”

    Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Leader Udaya Gammanpila
    “I don’t want to. I am trying to win him over. I don’t want to sabotage that process by naming him. We have 94 without him. Then, we have EPDP Leader MP Douglas Devananda. It means 95 for us.”

    All these guys got screwed trusting My3.
    “Chief among these were ministers Sushil Premajayantha, Nimal siripala de Silva, SB Dissanayake,Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena and Deputy speaker Thilanga Sumathipala.”

    Ha ha ha

  • 3
    1

    JVP lost its credibility and its future by joining hands with the joint opposition who tried to create dictatorship by destroying rule of law, justice and democracy. The JO lead by Mahinda is the worst corrupted organization. How can you join hands with the corrupted murderous and racist Mahinda & Co who denied all the fundamental rights of the people for a decade?

    • 0
      0

      Ajith

      Are you nuts man
      How can anybody lose credibility by supporting NCM against a corrupt leader?

      Ranil clearly responsible for bond scam, so saving him is the gravest anti-social activity ever committed in this country.

      • 1
        1

        Real,
        It is important to understand who brought this NCM and what was the purpose of them. Can you tell us who was responsible for the crimes committed during the period of previous regime, who was responsible for the large scale corruption during the period of previous regime? who was responsible for the collapse of law & order, justice under previous regime? Do you want them back to ruin our country again? I would have supported if JVP brought the NCM to get rid of both Ranil, Mahinda & Sirisena.

        • 0
          0

          Ajith

          What you say reflects a phobia, the fear still lingering in the minds of MY3 faction & the UNP of MR clan.

          There’s no direct link between previous regime crimes & this particular vote of no confidence.

          This particular no confidence motion was against the PM over his behavior pattern to lose confidence on him.

          Generally it’s known that the previous regime had been corrupt & it’s the present regime’s failure to prosecute them, is the serious matter & it’s also reason for UNP to lose LG elections.

          .

  • 0
    0

    It was a utter waste of ministerial and parliamentary time. Sri Lanka has to race ahead of other countries in the region as otherwise we will be rated as among the poorest and weak nations

  • 0
    0

    LG poll white washed MARA & Co and this NCM did the same to RANIL !
    Now , who lost ? Undoubtedly the voter , Silva ! Now both MARA and RANIL
    are SIN FREE . Does SIRA and CBK deserve this ?

  • 4
    0

    D Day for Dr. Dayn Jayatillike?

  • 4
    0

    I think it is time for Maithiripala Sirisena to step down from the Presidency and call for a fresh Presidential election. Moreover, the defeat of the no-confidence motion signals that the country do not want to have Rajapaksas any more. Enough is enough. Sri Lanka is saved. A good lesson for the frustrated parasites. Let the country march towards economic development under Ranil Wickremasinghe, which the public is eagerly awaiting.

  • 5
    0

    Thank God…..But hope he holds Sirisena responsible for wasting his time.

  • 1
    3

    This is good for the Joint Opposition and bad for the UNP, RW and MY3.

    The RW and UNP will further destroys the country and that is good for the JO and they can have a easy win in the next election.
    The UNP has renewed a new contract with the TNA. That will further deteriorate the relationship and goodwill of majority Sinhalese from the UNP.

    The worst outcome is that the winning of Ranil and continuing of UNF government will further destroy the Economic and Political stability of Sri Lanka.

  • 0
    0

    This is all drama. These politicians may have differences in their political views, but they are good friends and know each other for decades and they look after each other against the public. Did any one really believe RW would lose the NCM???????

  • 1
    0

    At least now I hope President will have the guts to take the advice from the PM and appoint Sarath Fonseka as Minister of |Law and |Order. President who wanted the PM to resign is now a lame duck.

  • 2
    2

    Well, Congrats Ranil! Guess the MOOC’s courtesy USA did the trick. But they will only teach English (American). Lankan man is not built on American English alone – a huge lot more is needed. Unfortunately this is the most we can get from America at this time. Can’t believe this roused you and the other 78 up.
    *
    But we like your impending scheme for taxation, actually. We can only appeal to you now. These are the appeals:
    *
    1. No land-bridge to India – zero taxes to be used for even the thought of this
    *
    2. 50% of Colombo taxes for Colombo cleanliness
    *
    3. 40% of Colombo taxes for the rest of the Island.
    *
    4. >10% all-Island taxes for Northern development – the rest can come from the North itself (plenty of money coming in from diaspora).
    *
    5. Zero% for Ranil-futuristics
    *
    6. Oligarchic 1% entrepreneurial class to be taxed 60-70% of their profits.(Actually it will be good if you remove all the small person salary-tax, and tax only the oligarchy…..there goes your futuristics of course).
    *
    Failure to implement any of this and you’ve lost the general elections of course….also possibility of a coo.

  • 4
    0

    What a head of state we have spine less back stabber

  • 5
    0

    When I saw S.B. Dissanayake, Dayasiri Jayasekera, Susantha Punchinilame and few others were seen shivering, covering, and murmuring on their posts and perks earlier in the afternoon, I knew they predicted right.

  • 1
    0

    These power hungry opportunities (monkies ) never resign they will holds it until get sacked

  • 2
    0

    Congratulations Mr. RW! They say the past cannot be changed, the future is yet in your power. I am very hopeful that a single NCM would have taught you many lessons that 30 or plus election defeats did not.

  • 1
    0

    What a blunder of the 8th graders!

    An unwanted effort has made the Old Royals’ LG victory nullified. There was claim that LG was a referendum(On what? – Never a secret Solution came to Parliament). It further claimed that Ranil has lost in that.(Thero like ones showed a percentage juggle to prove that old King had won) . Those claims now gone as the duly elected parliament has help up the authority of Ranil. As Ranil has shown his credibility, the New King, the worst loser in the last election and who started this must resign now. There is not need for UNP MP initiate a no confidence motion on that. Thero, as the Slap Party Foreign Affairs Minister job is now gone beyond the horizon, should now get employed in Temple Tree House cleaning job to respect to Ranil.

  • 5
    0

    My3 slips even further ,back to Amudey. Its time to play Gota’s trumpet.

  • 2
    0

    At least now those two shameless Pinguttarayas – Wimal Buruwansa and Ponna Gommanpila – can devote their full time to licking the bloody arses of the Maha Rajjuruwaa & his family!

  • 2
    0

    Now the President cannot refuse to appoint Sarath Fonseka as Minister of Law and Order.

  • 1
    0

    PM escaped because it was public voting. If it was a ballot system, most would have voted for YES rater than NO. Most of them were scared to vote open, for they might loose their posts and positions.

  • 3
    0

    This is more a rejection of the Rajapaksas’ than an approval of Wickremasinha. If this resolution was brought forward by Range Bandara the outcome would have been entirely different, but the hybrid fox outwitted all the dimwits. The Rajapaksas’ knowingly or otherwise propped up Wickremasinha for their benefit, in the long run.

  • 0
    0

    So, what will TNA gets as a result of voting be holding onto all 16 seats during the Delimitation process. eventhough no of Tamils in the so-called Tamil areas is far less than the requirement for a seat. On the otherhand, Muslims will settle all over the island. SLMC and Rishad Mathiuddin are at the fore front. MY3 is silent because he got political donations from QATAR. the same old thieves. Interesting to see what will EVANGELISTS get. some ministers are workig hard.

  • 0
    0

    Ranil losing 2/3rd is the achievement. there were so many things going behind.

    • 0
      0

      “President Sirisena’s habit of betrayal proven again at the no confidence motion. First he encouraged SLFP members to support it and then backs off. He has betrayed both the SLFP and the UNP,” THis quote has been attributed to Namal Rajapakse.

      Truth to say, Sirisena has earned himself a pretty poor reputation overall, and will will now comfortably occupy the very last place in the presidential rankings..

  • 4
    0

    The loss to the country in so many ways owing to this NCM has been immense. Productivity has hit a new low and everything was at a standstill. My observations are as below..

    1. The result throws mud in the faces of all of the Electronic Media, who covertly or openly lobbied for Ranil’s removal.
    2. It particularly rubs the nose in the dirt of a self proclaimed high flyer TV station which made anti- Ranil propaganda, a part of their NEWS using a motley collection of callow youth ill-led by a fat man with a god-forsaken accent and a disgustingly pompous -I know it all – attitude..
    3. The result leaves the newspapers which covertly lobbied against Ranil with pie on their collective faces. Shame on them.
    4. This result hits Dayan Jayatilleka’s forensic political prediction skills for six. It is he who should give up political analyzing if he had any shame still left in him.
    5. The biggest loser of all has been Sirisena, who, with his two-timing ways and his clear racial and religious prejudices is unfit to lead this country into the future. The country will do well to rid him of his responsibilities; sooner the better.

    That said, Ranil has some work to do as well, on an extremely urgent basis..

    1. Succession planning within the UNP. – A crying need.
    2. Induction of capable youth to manage the affairs of the UNP. Let us not forget Obama was President of the USA when he was only 44.
    3. Replace derelicts from the front row of parliament on the government side and bring in vibrant youth who could hold their own in debate and repartee..
    4. PRACTICE FOR ALL TO SEE a policy of zero tolerance towards corruption – starting with the previous regime.
    5. BRING ALL MURDERERS TO BOOK.
    Stop any interference in the Police and the Judiciary.
    6. Work towards earning respectability to our tattered international image once again. Harder to do than to say, I must admit..

  • 4
    0

    It was a joke S.B. Dissanayake, who lost his seat at the parliamentary elections, supporting a NCM against the PM who secured the highest ever any candidate has secured in an election – 500,000 votes. It is also a joke that the PM who defeated the NCM so comfortably, now having to go before a president, increasingly becoming obstinate, to have S.B. removed from the cabinet. The president is also not likely to have those who supported the NCM, who are now in the cabinet, removed despite their conflicting position vis-a-vis the PM. The president who had his powers reduced by the 19th amendment now seems to regret it and undoubtedly proceed in his now customary hard-headed ways in venting his spleen on the now re-energized PM. Interesting and crucial days are ahead.

  • 3
    0

    Ranil Wins The Day – Good

    JO Consolidates, – Very Good

    Maithri Slips Even Further – Very Good

    Govt Loses 2/3rds Majority – Very Good

    You see there is an alternative view, protected by the charter of Human Rights. So respect it.

    Now for the new Government to answer to the UN Human Rights issues. – Also Very Good.

    I cant wish you good luck, however, maybe a brighter future, yes.

    And while you are at it choose a great leader for the 2020 Presidential, the people of this country have an enviable track record of choosing great leaders who benefit the country by creating peace and prosperity.

  • 3
    0

    Will RW insist that all the Ministers and State Ministers who voted for the NCM be stripped of their posts along with the UNPers who criticised him? No one can fault him because it will be Impossible for him to work with those who have No Confidence in him. If he can have his way, the Cabinet can can be brought down to just 30 which can not only be expected to work without friction but also save the country a Fortune in Needless Perks.

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