Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickremesinghe wins no-confidence motion in Parliament

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday comfortably won the no-confidence motion against him in Parliament. In the 225 member Parliament, 122 members voted against the motion while 76 voted in favour of it.

All the members of United National Party (UNP) led by Prime minister voted against the motion except one who abstained. The motion was brought by opposition group led by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa charging the Prime minister’s party of involvement in bond scam.

Earlier, 13 government ministers and MPs belonging to Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) led by President Maithripala Sirisena declared to vote for the motion, further exposing the deep divisions within the unity government. The Ministers said they will remain in the government even as they have no faith in the Prime Minister.

UNP demanded resignations of these ministers saying they cannot remain within the government after voting against it. Cabinet spokesman Dr Rajitha Senaratne said that a new unity government will be formed next week. He asserted that people in the country would witness a totally different and new approach of the unity Government that would fulfil all their aspirations.