Parliament is due to reconvene tomorrow. The media had reported yesterday that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is preparing to resign from the post of Prime Minister by making a special statement in Parliament tomorrow.
However, parliamentary sources say that Mahinda Rajapaksa has not yet sought permission from the Speaker to make a special statement.
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya is preparing to table a no-confidence motion against the government in Parliament tomorrow. The group of UNP MPs is scheduled to meet today for final discussions in this regard. The National Organizer of the party Tissa Attanayake says that the final decisions regarding the no confidence motion will be taken at that discussion.
Meanwhile, a meeting is scheduled to be held today between the representatives of the 11 parties that have left the government and are functioning as an independent group in Parliament. It is reported that this meeting will be held in Colombo this morning.
The 11-party group has proposed the formation of a national government for a short period of time as a solution to the current crisis. The 11 party group also held discussions with the SLPP yesterday and the party has agreed in principle for a national government.
Meanwhile, the post of Deputy Speaker is also being discussed. The SLPP has nominated Badulla District Parliamentarian Dilan Perera for the post, but he has rejected it. Several names have been suggested by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya but no final decision has been taken so far. This will also be discussed at today’s meeting of the Parliamentary Group.