The Supreme Lanka Coalition (‘Uttara Lanka Sabhagaya’) of the Parliamentary Opposition has decided to endorse the no confidence motion (NCM) against the Speaker of the Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana.
The decision was taken when the Parliamentary group of the political alliance formed by a group of political parties including the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Leader, attorney Udaya Gammanpila met on Monday (26).
On Monday (26), several Opposition parties led by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa signed a motion of no confidence against the Speaker, claiming that he had violated the Constitution. As such, a group of MPs belonging to the Opposition in the Parliament including President’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran, attorney Lakshman Kiriella, Prof. G.L. Pieris, Tissa Attanayake, Chandima Weerakkody, and Shan Vijayalal De Silva, had inked the motion against the Speaker for approving the much-disputed Online Safety Bill (OSB) amidst ‘irregular procedures’.
The NCM pointed out that the Speaker had ignored the Supreme Court’s (SC) recommendations pertaining to nine sections of the OSB. Earlier this month, Premadasa charged that the Speaker had ignored nine recommendations given by the SC while enacting the Online Safety Act, adding that they no longer have faith in him.