The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on Saturday said that it will support a no-trust motion against newly appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, amid mounting pressure on President Maithripala Sirisena to let the suspended Parliament hold a vote.
In a statement, the TNA said Mr. Rajapaksa’s appointment was a violation of the Constitution’s 19th amendment. The alliance had “decided to vote in favour of the no-confidence motion against Rajapaksa”, the statement added.
One TNA legislator, S. Vilenthiriyan, has extended support to Mr. Rajapaksa . At least four more of the group’s 16 MPs are believed to be to joining Mr. Rajapaksa’s camp.
Ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s United National Party said they have handed over a motion of no-confidence against Mr. Rajapaksa. His call for a floor test in Parliament has been ignored by Mr. Sirisena who has suspended Parliament until November 16.
MP offered bribe
Also, Palitha Range Bandara, a legislator of Mr. Wickremesinghe’s party, has said that he was offered $2.8 million to extend support to Mr. Rajapaksa’s bid to prove his majority. “I was asked to make a step forward to become a Cabinet Minister,” Mr. Bandara told reporters as he played a voice recording of a conversation he allegedly had with a Sirisena loyalist, who told him that he would be rewarded with a Cabinet position.
Mr. Bandara also said that he had in his possession a telephone recording of a conversation with “a very powerful person”. “I have a recording of a conversation with a VVIP which I will play very soon,” he said.
So far, Mr. Wickremesinghe has the support of 103 MPs while Mr. Rajapaksa has 100 MPs in the 225-member assembly. Most of the 22 remaining MPs are likely to oppose Mr. Rajapaksa, experts said.
The UNP said that Sirisena’s people were “shamelessly trying to buy our MPs over to secure this unconstitutional and illegal seizure of power. The police must take action immediately“.
Wickremesinghe has refused to accept his dismissal, claiming to be the country’s legitimate premier. He argues that he cannot legally be removed until he loses the support of Parliament and called for a floor test to prove his majority.
On Tuesday, angry protests rocked Sri Lanka’s capital as thousands of demonstrators gathered for a rally organised by Wickremesinghe’s party against what it said was a “coup” by President Sirisena.
