Views were expressed in parliament today on the motion of no-confidence against Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake.

UPFA MP, Vasudeva Nanayakkara raised the question:

Will you confirm the date for the motion of no-confidence against the Minister of Finance ?

Leader of the House, Lakshman Kiriella,  in reply stated:

The budget has a 2/3 majority in this parliament. Therefore bringing in a motion of no-confidence at this time is humourous and even the former president has not signed the motion

Chief Opposition Whip, Anura Kumara Dissanayake added:

This is just one vote and that cannot be a cause to determine that a motion of no-confidence cannot be presented against the Finance Minister

Minister of Justice ,Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe stated:

When there was such a motion, we called for a budget vote in Parliament and got a 2/3 majority – as 159 voted for the budget so now the motion is not valid.

UPFA MP, Bandula Gunawardena stated:

When Minister Ravi Karunanayake classified 12.1 billion rupees as funds that will not be used.  We questioned him how he made that calculation and he said that there are 11,000 schools in the country and that valuation was added. But this is a total deception

Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe stated:

If he is wrong, it will be decided by the working committee as to what action needs to be taken.

He went on to raise the questions

Who curtailed free education? And if this is wrong and if it is proven are you prepared to step down from Parliament?

And added noted that if the former president is wrong he too must step down.

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