Sri Lanka’s opposition parties have decided to relocate No-confidence motion against SLPP coalition government in parliament on Wednesday, even as the crisis-hit government led President Gotabaya Rajapakse Announced the appointment of a cabinet sub-committee to consider the proposal for a new constitution.
Main opposition Samagi Jana Balvegaya (SJB) said they would move a no-confidence motion against the government, while the main Tamil party and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP) would jointly move a no-confidence motion against the troubled president. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, which would mean that the House had lost confidence in the President.
“We will submit the no-confidence motion tomorrow (Wednesday),” senior SJB leader Ajit Perera said.
Experts say that if the government is defeated in the SJB resolution, then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and the cabinet will have to resign. There is no legal obligation for a TNA/UNP proposal for the President to resign.
“This problem can be solved only when the President or the Prime Minister resigns. It is up to them to decide,” said former Prime Minister Wickremesinghe.
Under Article 38 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka, a President can be removed only if he has resigned voluntarily or through a lengthy process of impeachment.
There was a flurry of political meetings over the weekend as Mahinda Rajapaksa refused to resign to make way for a unity government for an interim period.
The powerful Buddhist clergy also demanded the resignation of Mahinda Rajapaksa to make way for an interim government.
The government on Tuesday announced the appointment of a cabinet sub-committee to consider the proposal for a new constitution.
Amid massive protests against the government’s handling of the economy, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had proposed amending the constitution to create an accountable administration that meets the aspirations of the people.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, showing reluctance to sack his older brother, told parties he would be willing to form an all-party interim government if the parties secured a majority of 113 in the 225-member assembly.
Seven days’ notice is required before any motion can be included in the order sheet for debate. The date was to be agreed upon in the meeting of party leaders, where the working of the House was agreed.
Both Rajapaksa are coming under increasing pressure to step down in the looming economic slowdown, where people struggle with everything necessary, including power cuts.
urgent Indian financial aid A relief is provided even though the government is in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout.
Sri Lanka has been going through a period of unprecedented economic turmoil since independence from Britain in 1948. The crisis is partly due to a lack of foreign exchange, which means the country cannot pay for imports of staple foods and fuels. Leading to sharp shortages and very high prices.
Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets across Sri Lanka since April 9, as the government ran out of money for vital imports; The prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed and there is a severe shortage in the supply of fuel, medicines and electricity.