UNP withdraws motion

United National Party (UNP) withdrew the motion which was scheduled for debate yesterday in Parliament and lined-up in the Order Paper to be the first business of the day. 

Withdrawing the motion, UNP lawmaker Mayantha Dissanayake gave no specific reason for such action or any future date to resubmit.

The motion in question had been filed by UNP lawmakers Wijepala Hettiarachchi, Harshana Rajakaruna, Mayantha Dissanayake, Mujibur Rahuman, Ajith Mannapperuma, Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne, and Hirunika Premachandra, proposing the House to take action in terms of Article 48 (2) of the Constitution.

The motion held that, the President appointed MP Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister on 26 October, and whereas, when a no confidence motion minus the first paragraph of the motion passed on 14 November was moved to the House on 16 November against MP Rajapaksa and the Government, it was passed; and whereas, the first paragraph of the motion passed on 14 November has been removed accordingly.

It further held that the motion passed on 16 November is substantially a No-Confidence Motion against Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Government; and whereas the Cabinet of Ministers stands dissolved in terms of Article 48 (2) of the Constitution. Accordingly, that this Parliament proposes to the President that further action be taken in terms of Article 48 (2) of the Constitution. (AH)