Speaker awaits report for ruling on no-confidence motion against Deputy Minister

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

Colombo, August 21 (Daily Mirror) - Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne has informed party leaders that he will issue a ruling on the no-confidence motion brought against Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekera once he receives a report from the office of the Secretary General of Parliament.

According to a party leader who wished to remain anonymous, the Speaker stated during a recent meeting that the motion had also been referred to the Attorney General to determine whether it is sub judice, due to an ongoing legal case related to the 2019 Easter Sunday bomb attacks.

The primary accusation against Deputy Minister Jayasekera is his alleged failure to take action against extremist groups operating in the Eastern Province during his tenure as the region's commanding officer. These groups are believed to have been involved in the Easter Sunday bombings.

Meanwhile, Leader of the House Bimal Ratnayake told Parliament that the government is willing to facilitate a debate on the no-confidence motion, provided procedural concerns are addressed. He noted that a comprehensive review is necessary to determine whether parliamentary procedure permits such a motion against a Deputy Minister.