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By Ashwin Hemmathagama
– Our Lobby Correspondent
Backbenchers of the United National Party (UNP) yesterday accused Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Faiszer Musthapha as responsible for the delay in holding elections.
During a media conference held at the Parliament complex on Thursday, the UNP backbenchers wanted the Minister to extend his resignation if not capable of taking control of the situation and holding elections as per the previous system repealing the new system.
According to MP Ashoka Priyantha, the elections should be held without delay.
“There is an issue on the date of the election. We want the elections to be held as soon as possible. A series of unexpected problems have come up with the elections getting delayed. The Minister could hold elections in particular areas which are not included in the petition. If not, the Parliament should repeal the new Act and hold elections following the provisions of the previous Act. The Minister should resign. At least to respond the minister is not in the country,” he said.
UNP MP Thushara Indunil placed the blame on the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). “We were expecting the local government election immediately after the general elections. But it never came through. We silently listened to public complaints. We can no longer be silent. SLFP should take the responsibility and should stop misleading people,” he said. UNP MP Dr. Kavinda Jayawardana requested the Minster to resign if he was unable to perform his duties. “We are unable to wait till the SLFP and the Joint Opposition form an alliance for the election. We want the election to be held without a delay. The delay shows nothing but the Minster’s incompetency so he should resign,” said Dr. Jayawardana.
By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent
The UPFA’s Joint Opposition Parliamentary group yesterday submitted a no-confidence motion against Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Faiszer Musthapha.
The motion with 12 signatures demands the resignation of the Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government, citing his alleged involvement in delaying Local Government elections.
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has accepted the no-confidence motion, which will be included in the Parliament Order Paper.
According to the motion, the JO lawmakers have cited the Minister as an irresponsible person and stated that he should tender his resignation since he had failed to execute his duty to hold the elections.
Ranjith Soyza, Roshan Ranasinghe, Wimalaweera Dissanayake, Udaya Shantha Gunasekara, Udaya Gammanpila, Janaka Wakkumbura, Vijitha Berugoda, Dilum Amunugama, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, and Sisira Jayakodi signed the motion.
The Marxist opposition JVP has agreed to join hands with the JO to support the no-confidence motion in Parliament.
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday announced in parliament that a party leaders’ meeting will be called today to discuss the postponement of Local Government elections following the Appeal Court’s Interim Order suspending the operation of the Gazette notification on the Delimitation report.
The Speaker was responding to a question raised by UNP MP Heshan Vithanage.
The parliamentarians in the House said the Local Government elections should be held without postponing. However, the Leader of the House Minister Lakshman Kiriella said that a court decision could not be changed.
MP Dinesh Gunawardena expressing his views said the government should take steps to hold the elections as soon as possible.
The Speaker responding to the MP said he cannot hold an election and he would discuss the issue today.
The Court of Appeal Wednesday considering a petition filed by six voters issued a temporary injunction until 4th December preventing the implementation of the gazette notification issued by the subject minister on delimitation of local authorities in relation to the Local Government elections.
