Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya has sent another letter to the President Maithripala Sirisena in response to the President’s letter to him regarding the verdict on the No-Confidence Motion that was passed against Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday.
In his letter, the Speaker said it is regrettable that the President has forgotten that he became the President on 8 January 2015 and Ranil Wickremesinghe became the Prime Minister on the mandate given by the people.
The Speaker reiterated that the No-Confidence Motion against Mahinda Rajapaksa was passed yesterday with 122 MPs voting in favor. Among the 122 MPs were members of the political parties UNP, JVP, SLFP, TNA, and SLMC as well as few members of the new government, the Speaker pointed out.
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said he informed the MPs three times that he would conduct a voice vote on the No Confidence Motion due to continued disruption by pro-Rajapaksa MPs. Jayasuriya said under provisions in Article 47(1) of Standing Orders he resorted to steps to pass the Motion after a majority voice vote was called.
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 not visited Sirikotha, the UNP headquarters, and had refrained from engaging in any party activity since his appointment as the Speaker.
Under such circumstances the Speaker said, he is puzzled by the President’s allegations that he violated Parliament norms and traditions yesterday.
The Speaker noted that due to the actions taken by the President on 26th October, the country is being led towards instability with the economy, the public’s life, tourism and the international image of the country are deteriorating and the honor the President earned in his long political life is also diminishing rapidly.
Jayasuriya appealed to the President to listen to the voice of the majority and take urgent steps to save the counry from the destruction.
The Speaker also said he will seek the advice of legal experts on the legal grounds of the facts cited in the letter issued by the President yesterday. Speaker Jayasuriya stated he will direct another letter to the President following legal deliberations.
Courtesy: Colombo Page
