Party leaders calls on President to respect the will of Parliament

Colombo (New 1st) - Leader of the UNP Ranil Wickremesinghe, Opposition Leader R Sampanthan and other parliamentarians who support Ranil Wickremesinghe convened a media briefing at the Parliamentary complex. Wickremesinghe stated that they have handed over a letter to the speaker, with the signatures of everyone who supports the No Confidence Motion. He stated that there are 122 signatures. He also stated that if anyone wants to challenge the verdict of the speaker, they should bring a motion in parliament tomorrow (Nov 15) and to get approval for it. He added that as a result of the events that have transpired, the legal power is vested with the government which existed two Fridays ago and that they will act accordingly. The leader of the opposition R. Sampanthan stated that the independence of the judiciary was demonstrated yesterday and that the independence of the legislature was demonstrated today (Nov 14) through the decision taken by 122 members against the present government. Leader of SLMC Rauff Hakeem stated that the government should be handed back respectfully without causing a crisis. Meanwhile, Rishad Bathiudeen the leader of ACMC stated that they went to court with the notion that the dissolution of parliament was illegal and that now they have received the votes of 122 MP's. MP Bathiudeen called on the President to respect the decision of the Parliament.