Chief Opposition Whip John Seneviratne said only the executive president had the power to dissolve parliament, and therefore Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s threat was meaningless.

Mr. Wickremesinghe had said at a function at UNP headquarters Sirikotha that parliament would be dissolved if a no confidence motion against Public Security Minister John Amaratunga was carried.

Responding to these remarks, Mr. Seneviratne said the prime minister had no authority to dissolve Parliament in such an event.

“Only the executive president can do it,” he said.

Asked whether President Maitripala Sirisena as chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) was consulted before bringing this motion, Mr. Seneviratne said it was a decision of the SLFP parliamentary group and had nothing to do with the executive president.

“We collected the signatures of 114 MPs for this motion. There are also a few of our members currently abroad. With their support, we can easily carry this motion,” he said.(Kelum Bandara)