Happy to face no confidence motion: Speaker

Saturday, 24 November 2018 01:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Calls on pro-MR Parliamentarians to present NCM to remove him if he is biased
Keen to facilitate opportunities for pro-MR MPs to show majority
Says disrupting House or having external protests without showing majority pointless
Gives detailed explanation of actions since 26 Oct. to party leaders

When the party leaders meeting commenced last morning before Parliament sessions, Speaker Jayasuriya had made a request to leaders of political parties to be cordial to each other despite representing different political views. He had also presented an extensive and detailed explanation of his actions since the events of 26 October and pointed out that his actions had been in accordance with parliamentary traditions, precedence and Standing Orders, the statement said.

“The Speaker pointed out that it was the responsibility of the Parliamentarians that say they have the majority to prove they are the majority. The Speaker also noted that as four out of the six parties in Parliament had shown their majority in Parliament, he had no choice but to pay attention to it, and this was in no way an effort to act partisan,” the statement said.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya had stated that if a group of Parliamentarians were unhappy with his actions, they could present a no confidence motion against him, and with a simple majority vote in Parliament, have him removed.

“The Speaker said that he would be happy if such a no confidence motion were presented against him or if the Parliamentarians who were dissatisfied with him could show a simple majority in the House. When the opportunity remained for such action, attempting to create brawls in Parliament, removing the Speaker’s Chair, or criticising Parliament with external protests would be futile, the Speaker told party leaders,” the statement said.

If Parliamentarians who consider themselves to be the Government are willing to show majority in Parliament, the Speaker said he would provide every opportunity in his power for them to do so and went onto explain his rationale for the appointment of the Selection Committee of Parliament. He had pointed out that even in the appointment of the Committee, he would continue to be fair and unbiased. As such he had pointed out the group of 122 would be given seven slots while the other group of Parliamentarians would be given five. He had also expressed optimism that there could be a change in the present situation after 7 December when the Supreme Court is expected to give its decision.