Jeyaraj dares Opposition to table No-Faith Motion

Manjula Fernando and Nadira Gunatilake

COLOMBO: The Government yesterday challenged the main Opposition UNP to present its “much trumpeted” No-Confidence Motion against the Government , vowing to defeat it with a clear majority.

Highways Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, told the media at the weekly situation briefing yesterday that the Government was mapping up strategy to face the Opposition’s No-Confidence Motion head on although they were quite certain that the Opposition Leader could not count on all his 43 UNP MPs to support this selfish attempt at a power grab.

“We are ready to take up the no-confidence the day after it is brought to Parliament. Sooner the better. We hope it will be before the Budget,” Fernandopulle challenged.

He said a minimum of two days and a maximum of five days could be allocated to debate the No-Confidence during which the Government plans to expose the corruption on the part of the Ministers of the past UNP regime.

“The UNP’s accusations against the Government are not backed by any tangible evidence but we would lay out all the evidence against the UNP’s corruption in Parliament for all to see.”

The Minister said they have already found out how UNP ministers have abused their powers to enjoy wealth among their own family members. The details of these dealings are in black and white.

“Once it is over, the people will decide which was the most corrupt Government the country has had.”

Six Committees comprising 18 Government MPs have been appointed to dig up material to face the Opposition challenge, the Minister said adding that they were in the process of collecting material to counter their charges.

“We have 119 seats in Parliament altogether, whereas they have only 105 counting UNP’s 44, JVP’s 37 (minus Nandana Gunatilleke), TNA’s 22 and M-group’s two.”

“We are ready and confident of crushing the no-confidence,” Fernandopulle said.

Describing the latest No-Confidence attempt as the Opposition Leader’s next “gimmick” to find a short cut to power, after the Gnanakone episode to buy over MPs, the Minister said he would propose that the Government to go for a snap poll soon after the budget to test its strength.