Won’t function as part of UNF Govt – ITAK/TNA
Posted on December 14th, 2018
METHMALIE DISSANAYAKE Courtesy Ceylon Today
The Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) made it clear yesterday (12) that they would not function as a part of a United National Front (UNF) Government and that they would continue to be seated in the Opposition.
However, the Party extended its support to the restoration of a Government led by the UNF as it existed prior to 26 October, Parliamentarian Mavai Senadhiraja, making a statement in Parliament on behalf of the ITAK and the TNA, said.
The House on the same day passed a motion supporting UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to act as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka by 117 votes. The TNA voted in favour of the motion.
Speaking further, Senadhiraja noted that the Party had sent a letter to President Maithripala Sirisena on 29 November with the signatures of 14 MPs explaining its stance regarding the current political turmoil. They would continue to act according to the facts mentioned in that letter, he added.
The TNA in the letter had noted that to ensure that an MP is able to command the confidence of the Parliament as the Prime Minister, the ITAK will support the restoration of a Government headed by the UNF as it existed prior to 26 October.
We will also support the appointment of a nominee of the UNF who in the opinion of you is able to command the confidence of the Parliament as the Premier. The inability of the MP who was appointed as the Prime Minister, to prove that the Parliament has confidence in him, as the Prime Minister and the votes of No Confidence passed against him, pertaining to his claim to be the Prime Minister, have created a controversy in the country as to whether the country is without a Prime Minister, a Cabinet of Ministers and a lawfully constituted Government for more than a month. We respectfully submit that this situation should not continue. The view of the majority of the MPs on the issue of whether the said MP commands the confidence of Parliament to be the Prime Minister has been negative and has been demonstrated beyond doubt,” the letter said.
Currently, the UNF has only 103 seats in the House and needs to have 10 more seats to form a Government on its own.