Opposition Takes Aim at Justice Minister | But Not Everyone Joins the Fight

COLOMBO (News 1st); A no-confidence motion against Justice Minister and Attorney-at-Law Harshana Nanayakkara, signed by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and several opposition MPs, has been formally handed over to Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne.

A total of 37 Members of Parliament have signed the motion.

However, a significant number of MPs from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), which holds 40 seats and constitutes the largest bloc in the opposition, have not signed the proposal.

Among the SJB parliamentarians whose signatures were absent from the motion is Kurunegala District MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha.

Ratnapura District MP Hesha Withanage was also not among the signatories.

Of the 66 opposition seats in Parliament, the remaining 26 are held by the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), the New Democratic Front (NDF), the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and several other parties and groups.

While the motion has received support from members of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, the signature of MP Namal Rajapaksa was notably absent from the document.

Among the signatories from the New Democratic Front were MPs Ravi Karunanayake, Chamara Sampath and Rohitha Abeygunawardena.

However, MP Faizer Musthapha did not sign the motion.

Meanwhile, ITAK MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam stated that the party's eight MPs would not support the no-confidence motion.

It is also noteworthy that the Tamil Progressive Alliance led by Mano Ganesan has not backed the proposal.

The no-confidence motion has been brought against the Justice Minister over allegations that he failed to properly discharge his responsibilities following the violent incidents that occurred at the Negombo Prison on July 5 and 6, during which a number of prison officers and inmates lost their lives while others sustained serious injuries.