Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament yesterday that all arguments presented by Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne for rejecting the no-confidence motion against Deputy Minister of Defence were flawed.
Premadasa said that according to a report submitted by the Parliament Secretariat, a deputy minister was a public officeholder, and therefore there was no legal barrier to moving a no-confidence motion against such a person. Premadasa pointed out that the documents used to justify the rejection of the no-confidence motion themselves contradict the Speaker’s position.He said that the Attorney General’s Department had clarified that there was no legal barrier to moving such motions.
Citing parliamentary traditions, Premadasa said that as per Erskine May, just as collective no-confidence motions could be moved against a government, they could also be brought against individual ministers. He questioned whether Erskine May had been properly studied before dismissing the motion.
The Opposition Leader also highlighted that in India, not only constitutional officials but also ministers and officeholders could be subjected to no-confidence motions if they lose the trust of Parliament.
He charged that the present government was now selectively invoking former Speaker Anura Bandaranaike’s practices to suit their needs.
Premadasa also criticised the government for mocking Opposition MPs such as Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunathilaka and MP Ajith P. Perera, who presented compelling arguments. He added that it was ironic for the government to have discussed child rights yesterday and then today accuse MPs of “talking like children”.