Moragoda No-Confidence Motion debate no problem - Jeyaraj

Uditha Kumarasinghe, Ranil Wijayapala and Irangika Range

Chief Government Whip Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle yesterday told Parliament that the Government has no problem of debating the No-Confidence Motion on Tourism Minister Milinda Moragoda, but stressed the No-Confidence Motions moved in Parliament should be debated according to the tabled order of those Motions.

He said the Government has handed over two No-Confidence Motions against UNP MPs Lakshman Seneviratne and Mahinda Rathnatillaka, while the UNP has submitted two No-Confidence Motions against Ministers Keheliya Rambukwella and Milinda Moragoda.

Therefore, these four No-Confidence Motions should be debated according to the order in which these No-Confidence Motions have been handed over to the Speaker.

The Minister said the issue on Moragoda’s No-Confidence Motion was discussed at the Party Leader’s meeting on Monday. However Moragoda has informed the Government that there was no hurry to debate this Motion.

According to Fernandopulle, UNP MP M.H.M. Maharoof in a letter addressed to UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had stated that he (Maharoof) will not extend his support to the No-Confidence Motion moved against Moragoda.

“At present a severe crisis has been created within the UNP. The Government has no intention to assist to solve this crisis.”

The Minister said there is no ability to debate this No-Confidence Motion during this year. This motion can be debated next year. Because the scheduled items of the Parliament for this year will end in December 14. He said Parliament only recommended to print the COPE report. “No vote was conducted in Parliament whether we accept the COPE report or not,” Fernandopulle said.

Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Michael Perera said no Minister or MP subjected to these No-Confidence Motions have had requested that their Motions be debated. But Moragoda in a letter addressed to the Speaker has requested to immediately debate the No-Confidence Motion moved against him.

That is why the UNP is requesting to debate this motion today.”

He said Moragoda has been named by the COPE report and therefore if the Government wanted to show its transparency, this Motion would have been debated today.

The Government is attempting to prove that the COPE report is a false document. However, Parliament has accepted the COPE report. When the COPE report was submitted to the House, nobody opposed it.

“Therefore, the Government should express its stand first whether they accept the COPE report or not, why the Government keeping this Motion in the agenda without debating it to free Moragoda from these allegations,” he asked.

UNP MP Tissa Attanayake said the House has powers to decide on which No-Confidence Motion should be debated first. The Government attempts to ignore it with a hidden agenda. The Government is attempting to postpone the debate as it will reveal the malpractice to the country, he said.

JVP MP Wimal Weerawansa said the JVP has extended its support to this No-Confidence Motion tabled by the UNP. The Government has given security and portfolios to some politicians who have been subjected to various allegations, he said.

The UNP extended its support to pass the Budget of Western and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councils only in Parliament. The UNP has moved this No-Confidence Motion against Moragoda without freeing him from these charges, he said.

Weerawansa said this Motion should be debated in Parliament with immediate effect. The Government should show its accuracy by facing to this debate as soon as possible.

UNP MP Palitha Range Bandara said compared with other No-Confidence Motions, this is a very serious Motion moved against a Government Minister.

This Motion has been moved based on a huge financial malpractice committed by Moragoda. The Government should take a decision whether they safeguard the country’s people or a politician who has been committed to a fraud, he said.