March 19, Colombo (LNW): The two-day parliamentary debate on the motion of no-confidence against Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena is set to commence today (19).
Following the decision made at last week’s Committee on Parliamentary Business meeting chaired by Abeywardena, the debate is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. and will continue until 5:30 p.m. today.
Tomorrow, March 20, the debate is expected to conclude by 4:30 p.m., with a vote on the no-confidence motion to follow.
The motion against the Speaker was submitted to the Deputy General Secretary of Parliament on March 5 and has garnered the signatures of 44 parliamentarians, including Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella, and several other MPs.
The no-confidence motion alleges that the Speaker disregarded recommendations from the Supreme Court regarding various sections of the Online Safety Bill.
Additionally, it accuses Abeywardena of allowing the passage of the bill’s third reading without a vote and ignoring calls for a division by the Chief Opposition Whip during the Committee Stage.
Furthermore, opposition MPs contend that the Speaker unconstitutionally used his decisive vote to confirm the appointment of IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon, despite a split decision within the Constitutional Council.
The Speaker’s vote broke the tie and facilitated the appointment, disregarding the abstentions of two council members, they alleged.
