Colombo (The Island) - A no-confidence Motion (NCM), submitted to parliament against Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen will not be debated on June 18 and 19, consequent to the Vanni District MP giving up his portfolios.
Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader and attorney-at-law Udaya Gammanpila yesterday told The Island that the parliament couldn’t proceed with the debate and the vote in the wake of All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) leader Bathiudeen’s resignation.
Bathiudeen resigned following UNP National List MP Ven. Athureliye Rathana Thera’s fast, which commenced on May 31 near Dalada Maligawa, demanding his removal from the government.
TNA Batticaloa District MP S. Viyalendiran also launched a fast unto death in Batticaloa the following day. Both Ven. Rathana and Viyalendiran signed the NCM against Bathiudeen.
MP Gammanpila said as NCMs could be moved only against ministers and Prime Minister the NCM handed over to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya in respect of Minister Bathiudeen was void now.
MP Gammanpila handed over NCM signed by 66 MPs to Speaker Jayasuriya over two weeks ago.
Responding to The Island query, MP Gammanpila said that the JO moved NCM to deprive Bathiudeen of ministerial portfolios over his alleged complicity with those involved in the Easter Sunday carnage.
Gammanpila was among those MPs who visited Ven. Rathana over the weekend. Ven. Rathana launched fast unto death protest demanding removal of Western Province Governor Azath Salley, Eastern Province Governor M.L.A.M. Hisbullah, Bathiudeen and a thorough investigation into an alleged clandestine sterilization project carried out by a doctor attached to the Kurunegala hospital.
A two- day debate would have given the JO opportunity to discuss its ten point NCM including Bathiudeen taking up the arrest of a terrorist suspect with the Commander of the Army Lt. Gen. Mahesh Senanayake, the MP said.
MP Viyalendiran told The Island he gave up his protest on Monday at 7 pm several hours after Ven. Rathana called off his. Asked whether he felt their intervention had resulted in the NCM being ended up in the dustbin, lawmaker Viyalendran said that the parliament could discuss quite serious allegations against Bathiudeen though the latter was no longer a minister.
Appearing on Derana 360 on Monday night National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa said that he would request Speaker Jayasuriya to retain the NCM against Bathiudeen in the order paper. He said that an attempt was being made to deceive the public by mass resignations of Muslim ministers.
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