UNP's No Confidence Motion, a damp squib

The UNP's No Confidence Motion against the Government was a damp-squib as Government legislators defeated it with a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

The UNP's failure to muster support of other Opposition parties was a clear reflection that the No ConfidenceMotion was ill-timed and didn't reflect the responsibility of a joint Opposition. This would go down in the annals of history as a mere No Confidence Motion moved by the UNP after a lapse of 20 years to cover its nudity.

The main allegation against the Government by the UNP in its No Confidence Motion was the Government's failure to prevent the influx of dangerous drugs including narcotics into the country. The Government had given two days for the Opposition to debate the Motion in Parliament. Government members who joined in the debate described the No Confidence Motion as an attempt to embarrass the Government and tarnishing the image of the country rather than adhering to democratic norms and principles governing a No Confidence Motion.

The vote taken by name as requested by Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga at the end of the two-day debate was a clear testimony on the present plight of the Opposition. The Government's stability in Parliament was reaffirmed once again by the defeat of the No Confidence Motion with a majority of 94 votes.

The Government and its constituent parties voted against the Motion while the UNP, DNA and TNA supported. However, the Motion received 151 votes against and 57 votes in favour. The notable absence of the constituent parties of the Government, the NFF and JHU was marked at the time of voting. Strangely, UNP frontliners Karu Jayasuriya and Mangala Samaraweera were also absent.

UNP Parliamentarian,Joseph Michael Perera who moved the No Confidence Motion on behalf of the UNP attempted to portray that Sri Lanka has turned into a focal point for the distribution of heroin. The deliberate attempt by the MP to refer to the names of certain MPs in his speech was prevented following a Point of Order raised by the Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage, Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. The Minister said that MP Perera had no right to refer to the names or the conduct of any parliamentarians unless he moves a substantive motion to the effect.

Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody told the House that any reference to names of MPs will be expunged from Hansard. Minister Gunawardena who was critical of certain references in the UNP's No Confidence Motion to India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, described them as unparliamentary which would have a bad impact on friendly relations.

Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister, Nimal Siripala de Silva who opened the debate on behalf of the Government categorically rejected the UNP's claim that Sri Lanka had become the heroin distribution hub of South Asia. He queried as to what grounds the UNP was making such allegations to sully the image of the country in this manner. "The Opposition is besmirching the motherland and it cannot mislead the people through such futile attempts. Although the Opposition moves No-Confidence Motions against the Government, yet the majority of the people are with the Government, the Minister said. He called upon the Opposition to get ready for an election and show their power. As there are a number of important issues to be debated in Parliament, the Minister challenged the Opposition to debate on such issues.

The Minister who was critical of the UNP's No Confidence Motion, queried as to why other Opposition parties such as the DNA and TNA had not signed it. The other No Confidence Motions moved in Parliament, were signed by the joint Opposition. DNA parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the UNP's No Confidence Motion was not moved in an appropriate manner. He said according to the composition of Parliament, the Government has 161 seats while the Opposition has nearly 100. Before a No Confidence Motion is moved, the Opposition should think twice as the composition of Parliament is favourable to the Government.

UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake in a hard-hitting speech said that heroin could be seized as it is imported to Sri Lanka on a large scale. When some Government members were continuously interrupting Ramanayake, he said those who get commissions from drug dealers were shouting in Parliament.

Highways, Ports and Shipping Projects Minster, Rohitha Abeygunawardena who spoke after Ramanayake told the House in lighter vein that some of the Government members inquired from him whether they were in Parliament or at the Savoy cinema. He said some UNP MPs attempted to turn the House into a cinema. This No Confidence Motion was moved by the UNP in whom the voters have lost confidence for 27 times. Only 30 UNP MPs were signatories to this No Confidence Motion. Even Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe or UNP MP Sajith Premadasa had not signed it, he said.

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said that heroin dealers had funded the UNP. The UNP is perturbed and has lost financially as many heroin dealers are being hunted down. The UNP's daydreaming of forming a Government has been shattered as the Government has mobilised its forces against drug dealers.Senior Minister for Human Resources D.E.W. Gunasekara's speech clearly analysed the history of No Confidence Motions in Parliament. He said 21 No Confidence Motions had been moved in the history of Parliament's history and this is the 22nd No-confidence motion moved in Parliament. The last No Confidence Motion was taken up in Parliament in 1994. The Minister said one has to consider whether it is the efficiency of the incumbent Government or the failure of the Opposition that a successful No Confidence Motion has not been moved in the past 20 years.

Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera said that a No Confidence motion was generally moved against the Government, when the economy was in the doldrums and there is no on-going development in the country. But the UNP had moved a No Confidence Motion against the Government when all economic indicators are positive and a mega development drive is in progress.

Therefore, this No Confidence Motion was designed to sling mud at the Government. Minister Perera said this Motion also brought the country into disrepute.UNP MP Harin Fernando who wound up the debate on behalf of the Opposition said they knew that they could not to win the No-Confidence Motion.

"We have a right to speak about the problems in this country. Though the Government makes allegations against the Opposition, it was unable to put up a united front against the Motion" he said. Fernando queried from Government ranks of the notable absence of Ministers Wimal Weerawansa and Champika Ranawaka at the debate.