Speaker Karu Jayasuriya issued a strong statement responding to President Maithripala Sirisena’s letter, affirming that the correct procedure was followed when adopting the No Confidence Motion against Mahinda Rajapaksa.
In a strongly worded letter, Jayasuriya said he informed the MPs thrice that he would conduct a voice vote on the No Confidence Motion due to continued disruption by pro-Rajapaksa MPs.
Reminding Sirisena of the circumstances under which Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed the Prime Minister in January 2015, Jayasuriya said Sirisena sought a mandate to appoint Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister, subsequent to his appointment as the President.
Jayasuriya said pursuing a collective decision adopted by 122 Parliamentarians was his duty as the Speaker. This, he said, amounted to Parliamentary democracy. He also added that he had set foot to Sirikotha, the UNP headquarters, and had refrained from engaging in any party activity since his appointment as the Speaker.
Anon69 / November 16, 2018
“As democracy is perfected, the office of the President represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day, the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last and the White House will be occupied by a downright fool and complete narcissistic moron.”
—-H.L. Mencken, The Baltimore Evening Sun, July 26, 1920…
Very appropriate for current situation in Sri Lanka
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Sarrij / November 18, 2018
A 69
‘downright fool’
S L has exceeded that prediction. We have many more ‘downright fools”; The President, The “two” PM’s, The Speaker and a few other “crooks”.
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Agnos / November 16, 2018
I think this whole mess has sorted out who the decent people are in parliament, who is principled, who is a statesman, etc.
Until recently RW was seen as feckless, but by refusing to leave Temple Trees and organizing protests and showing he has enough support still, he as shown his spine. But he should still work with younger UNP leaders who have stood by him on a leadership transition plan.
Karu Jayasuriya has done the right thing can take pride from it.
The JVP and its leader AKD also acted in a principled way and have improved from their past positions.
The SLMC and ACMC didn’t try to jump ship, even though they have done so many times before. So, while they did the right thing this time, they still need to show people that they can trust them to be principled in the future.
The people should keep in mind the few UNP jokers who were bought over and then rushed back to it after the SC decision.
Except for one or two MP’s who were trying to switch over to MS-MR faction for a cabinet position, the TNA took principled positions and Sampanthan, as always, played a critical role and acted as a statesman. He has maintained a good rapport with all parties, and whom these parties could trust. The parties should seize the moment to reset their thinking on the long-standing grievances of the Tamil people and take renewed efforts to find a just solution.
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Nimal / November 20, 2018
This political impasse was created by My3 to try and feather his own nest. In the process the country has been plunged in to a huge financial crisis, the effects of which will be felt by ordinary people in the next few YEARS. The only way we can resolve this is by a people’s movement that should have the support of ordinary citizens, business people, public servants including the police and forces… to put pressure on this president to re-establish righteousness
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