As expected, the Government today defeated the no-confidence motion by a majority of 94 votes despite the absence of two of its alliance partners – the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) and the National Freedom Front (NFF).

The motion moved by the main opposition United National Party (UNP) was taken up for voting last evening after a two-day debate in Parliament.  The UNP based its no-confidence motion on allegations that an international drug cartel was operating across Sri Lanka and the Government had failed to contain it.

The UNP, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) which has three members from the JVP made up the 57 parliamentarians who voted in favour of the no-confidence motion while 151 government members voted against it. Government members jeered at the opposition no sooner the results were announced.

Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka and Ven. Aturaliye Ratana Thera of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) and Minister Wimal Weerawansa and Deputy Minister Weerakumara Dissanayake of the National Freedom Front (NFF) were not present at voting time and this was a cause for elation among opposition members.

UNP Leadership Council Chairman Karu Jayasuriya and parliamentarian Mangala Samaraweera were also absent. (Kelum Bandara and Yohan Perera)