No-confidence motion against Minister Rishad handed over

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Motion of No Confidence against Minister Rishad Bathiudeen was handed over to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today. It was presented by a group of MP's including MP Udaya Gammanpila. He noted that the motion contained the signatures of 64MPs in the opposition. In addition, MPs Nishantha and Prasanna Ranathunga who are currently overseas had also written to the speaker informing him of their support for the motion. MPs Ananda Aluthgamage and Ashok Priyarathne who crossed over to the opposition from the United National Party also signed the no-confidence motion. MPs S.B. Dissanayake, Thilanga Sumathipala, Nishantha Muthuhettigama and Dilan Perera signed the motion from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. It was also signed by Venerable Athuraliye Rathana Thero and S. Viyalendran. However, opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa had not signed the motion of no-confidence. Meanwhile speaking to the media, UPFA MP Duminda Dissanayake said that the SLFP has not yet taken a decision on the motion and that there prevails two opinions in the joint opposition regarding the matter.