Govt ready for no-faith motion, says Chief Govt Whip

Committee to probe alleged LTTE deal also ruled out:

Rasika Somarathna

COLOMBO: The Government is ready to face any No Confidence Motion in Parliament, Chief Government Whip Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle asserted yesterday.

Minister Fernandopulle said the Government was also not prepared to appoint Parliamentary Select committees to satisfy whims and fancies of certain people based on mere rumours.

The Minister was referring to the twin issues of the No Confidence Motion on Defence Affairs Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and the allegation by MP Sripathy Sooriyarachchi with regard to an alleged deal with the LTTE before the Presidential Election.

Minister Fernandopulle addressing a news conference at the Information Department yesterday said the Government had the backing of a minimum of 119 MPs in Parliament and was not going to back away from any challenge.

Referring to the allegations made by UNP MP Lakshman Seneviratne on abductions, killings and extortions, Fernandopulle said that the Government had taken the allegations very seriously and directed the CID to investigate the matter immediately.

Charging that Senevirathne was now trying to evade giving details to the CID citing Parliamentary privileges, Fernandopulle said as a responsible he should come forward and give details to substantiate his allegations or else the Government side would bring a no confidence motion on Lakshman senevirathne, Fernandopulle said.

Saying that there were no Parliamentary privileges involved in giving such statements, Fernandopulle said: “As a former Pilot Officer I hope he knows what he says.”

Such statements could have a demoralising effect on the Forces and if found to be a canard the Government would not hesitate to bring a motion on the UNP MP, the Minister added.

Saying that the alleged deal with the LTTE was a day dream created by a few with the intention of throwing mud at the Government the Minister said the Government was not prepared to appoint select committees to probe rumours.

Noting that Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Tiran Alles too had joined the bandwagon, Fernandopulle said that Wickremesinghe had taken steps to sabotage the attempt to appoint a select committee on the murder of journalist Richard De Soyza when the UNP was in power and questioned the motive behind this attempt.

Minister Fernandopulle said if anyone wants they can ask the LTTE if they had received funds or not.