Sri Lankan government confident of defeating motion against PM

The Sri Lankan government on Friday expressed confidence over defeating a no-confidence motion submitted by the opposition against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The no-confidence motion was handed over by the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) to parliament with the signature of 112 parliamentarians.

Ruling UNP Minister John Amaratuga told Xinhua new agency that his party was ready to debate the motion when it is taken up in parliament and expressed confidence about defeating it.

"This is not a serious matter and we are ready to debate it. However, I am confident that this might not be taken up for a debate as the dissolution of parliament is imminent," he said.

UPFA member Manusha Nanayakkara told journalists on Friday that the no-confidence motion against Wickremesinghe was handed over to the parliament secretary general and subsequently UPFA party leaders met to discuss the matter.

He said that the UPFA party leaders, including the opposition leader, approved the motion to be handed over to parliament.

According to legal experts, if the no-confidence motion is adopted by parliament after it is signed by a simple majority, then the president has the right to remove the prime minister from his position.

Wickremesinghe was appointed prime minister by President Maithripala Sirisena soon after Sirisena's victory in the January presidential election which saw the defeat of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.