• Says no change in stance on motion on President
• Says he advised Opp. MPs to allow adjournment debate by Govt. MPs on attacks on their homes/properties to take precedence 
• Says Opp. chose wrong strategy

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday reaffirmed the UNP’s commitment to vote in favour of the motion expressing displeasure against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa when it is taken up in Parliament.

The Prime Minister reiterated his position after he came in for criticism for voting against a motion in Parliament yesterday to suspend Standing Orders to take up the debate on the motion against the President yesterday.

The Prime Minister’s office said last evening that during a discussion with Opposition MPs M.A. Sumanthiran, Rauf Hakeem and Mano Ganesan on 16 May, he was informed that they wanted to move a motion to suspend Standing Orders and debate the Motion of Displeasure against the President.

The Prime Minister had informed the Opposition MPs that the MPs had wanted to move an adjournment debate regarding the attacks on their homes and so they should be allowed to do so. He explained that since the Motion of Displeasure was already on the order books, it would be taken up afterwards.

The Prime Minister had informed the MPs that ruling party MPs would defeat a vote to suspend Standing Orders as the most pressing issue for them was their house being attacked.

This position had been explained to TNA MP Sumanthiran yesterday in the Chamber as well.

“However, the Opposition chose the wrong strategy and proceeded to move a vote to suspend Standing Orders. The Prime Minister, following the vote, explained to several Opposition MPs that the Government MPs would now use the defeat of the vote to suspend Standing Orders as an opportunity to prevent the Motion of Displeasure against the President being debated,” the PMs office said.

“It would be best if the Opposition used a better strategic approach going forward. Nevertheless, I wish to reaffirm our commitment to vote in favour of the motion as communicated earlier last week,” Wickremesinghe said.

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