Second No-Confidence motion against Faiszer raised in P’ment

• JVP claims president sanctioned petition that delays LG polls

Another No-Confidence motion against Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Faiszer Musthapha was submitted in Parliament, this time by the JVP, charging that the Minister had failed to hold local government elections on time. 

The motion states that while the Parliament had carried out its responsibilities in this regard, including passing the Local Government Election (amendment) Bill, Minister Musthapha had failed to hold the local government elections in a timely manner.

It further states that a foremost reason for the delay was the incompetence of the Minister to issue the relevant gazette notification, No. 2006/44, without faults as well as his failure to rectify the mistakes of the Gazette notification 1928/16 dated 21 August 2015, the latter of which contains the electoral division identified by the delimitation survey conducted by the National Delimitation Committee. 

In addition, as a direct result of the Minister’s negligence, the masses have been deprived of their democratic right to vote. The functions of local government institutions too had come to a standstill as a result of the delay of the motion and that for these reason the Parliament should resolve that it had no confidence in Minister Musthapha carrying out his duties as the Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government. 

The motion was signed by Chief Opposition Whip and JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake along with JVP MPs Sunil Handunetti, Vijitha Herath, Nalinda Jayatissa and Nihal Galappatti.

Furthermore, the JVP leader told the Daily FT that President Sirisena had sanctioned the petition before the Judiciary which had caused a further delay in the staging of elections. 

“This matter was taken up before Court by a group of persons with the blessings of the President. The only solution they have is to withdraw the case before the Court,” he said. 

Earlier this week the Joint Opposition too submitted a No-Confidence motion against Minister Musthapha citing similar reasons of delaying Local Government polls, with 13 of its member signing the motion. (SG)