No-faith motion against Faiszer

A No-Confidence Motion against Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Faiszer Musthapha was submitted to Parliament by the Joint Opposition (JO) yesterday (23).

It contained 12 signatures of JO MPs.

Through the motion the JO charged that the Minister had failed to ensure that the Local Government (LG) Elections are held on schedule.

“The Minister has failed to hold the LG elections on schedule, although the power has been granted to the Election Commission (EC) to hold the elections. This is a deadly blow to democracy in the country. Therefore, we cannot place our trust in the Minister. So, we request that Musthapha resigns from his post,” the motion said.

The JO MPs who signed the Motion include Dinesh Gunawardena, Chamal Rajapaksa, Bandula Gunawardena, Ranjith de Soyza, Wimalaweera Dissanayake, Padma Udayashantha Gunasekara, Udaya Gammanpila, Janaka Wakkumbura, Wijitha Berugoda, Dilum Amunugama, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and Sisira Jayakody. Also, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake told journalists that the JVP will also submit a No-Confidence Motion against Musthapha today (24).Meanwhile, United National Party (UNP) backbenchers yesterday said that Musthapha should resign from his Ministerial portfolio over the delay of Local Government elections. Addressing a media briefing at the Parliament Complex, UNP MPs Asoka Priyantha, Thushara Indunil, Chaminda Wijesiri, Kavinda Jayawardena, Sidney Jayaratne and Shantha Abeysekara said that Musthapha should take the responsibility for the faulty delimitation Gazette which was suspended by the Court of Appeal. We also can see that there is a sinister attempt to delay the elections until the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the Joint Opposition (JO) reunite. If Musthapha has a backbone, he should take the responsibility and resign from the post immediately.”

Speaking further, MP Wijesiri added that even though he is not yet aware of the UNP’s official position on the No- Confidence Motion against Musthapha, he personally supported it. The backbenchers suggested that the LG elections be held under the old electoral system. “If it cannot be done, then hold the elections excluding the LG bodies affected by the faulty Gazette,” they requested.

The MPs also said that the UNP backbenchers had decided that they would openly criticize the weaknesses of the Government hereafter. “It is the SLFP which takes all the credit for the good work done by the Government. But when it comes to a weakness, the UNP has to take all the blame for it,” they alleged.