July 21, Colombo (LNW): The Opposition has officially submitted a no-confidence motion against Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara, escalating political pressure following the recent unrest at Negombo Prison.
The motion was handed over to Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne in Parliament on Tuesday with the backing of several Opposition Members of Parliament, signalling a united effort to hold the Minister politically accountable over the incident.
The move follows the violent disturbances that erupted at Negombo Prison on 5 and 6 July, during which clashes resulted in the deaths of both prison officers and inmates, while a number of others sustained serious injuries. The incident has prompted widespread calls for a thorough review of prison management and security procedures.
In its motion, the Opposition contends that Minister Nanayakkara failed to discharge his responsibilities in relation to the administration of the country’s prison system and did not take adequate measures to prevent the crisis. It argues that the events at Negombo Prison exposed significant shortcomings in oversight and accountability within the sector.
The motion further alleges that the Minister did not properly carry out the functions assigned to him under Extraordinary Gazette No. 2412/08, issued on 25 November 2024. These responsibilities include formulating and implementing policies on prison administration and reform, overseeing rehabilitation programmes, improving prison infrastructure and addressing overcrowding in correctional facilities.
According to the Opposition, shortcomings in these key areas contributed to the conditions that led to the prison violence. The no-confidence motion is expected to be taken up in Parliament in accordance with established parliamentary procedures, with further debate likely in the coming weeks.