Following the letter sent to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena by Leader of the United National Party (UNP) MP Ranil Wickremesinghe seeking the holding of an adjournment debate upon the throne speech of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the commencement of the new Parliamentary session, storming speculations are claiming that the former Prime Minister is in a bid to unite the ‘fractured’ regime.
The UNP Leader’s move is believed by a number of opposition parties to be a part of a plot navigated together by Wickremesinghe and Basil Rajapaksa to uphold the shattering glory of the government.
They claimed that by doing so, the ‘losing’ two-thirds power in Parliament could be restored and the government strengthened, leaving black sheep like Susil Premajayantha, who was recently dismissed from his ministerial portfolio over an alleged criticism against the government, no choice but to vote in favour of the government decisions in Parliament.
The claim, however, has been dismissed by a spokesperson to the former Prime Minister’s Media Division, as ‘Lanka Leader’ learned that Wickremesinghe’s letter to the Speaker may have been misinterpreted by fuelling such rumours.
In his letter, Wickremesinghe noted that an adjournment debate should be held upon the President’s throne speech at the new Parliamentary session, adding that this should preferably be held on January 19, 20 and 21, 2022 as the Party Leadership Committee that takes decisions on Parliamentary affairs has now been dissolved.
Wickremesinghe has also discussed the matter with Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardena on January 03 and a written communique has also been forwarded to the Leader of the House in this regard.
Holding such a debate upon the President’s throne speech is traditionally being practiced after the adoption of the 1978 Constitution, the UNP Leader adds, but nowhere does it mention any request to hold a ‘vote’, the Spokesman told ‘Lanka Leader.’
