Defense Minister faces No Confidence Motion

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 February 2003, 11:54 GMT]
Sri Lanka's parliament Tuesday began debating the no-confidence motion against the Sri Lanka's Defense Minister Mr.Tilak Marapone. Opposition parliamentarian and a leading member of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Mr.Nimal Sripala de Silva presented the no confidence motion and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) parliamentarian Mr.Wimal Weerawanse seconded it, parliamentary sources said.

A former minister in the PA rule Mr.Nimal Sripala de Silva said the Defense Minister had failed to maintain law and order in the northeast province by allowing the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) freedom to do whatever they please and the Minister had failed to take action when the LTTE violated the ceasefire agreement.

Seconding the motion JVP parliamentarian said the LTTE is now enjoying more privileges than it was granted under the ceasefire agreement signed last year. The government is not in a position to bring the LTTE under control in the northeast province.

Minister Mr.Karu Jayasuriya said the time has come for all political parties in the parliament to join hands to formulate a national security policy. All political parties, which have representations in parliament, should come to an agreement in this regard, he stressed.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Mr. Mavai Senathirajah said that the no confidence motion against the Defence Minister could be identified as an attempt to derail the peace process and to destabilize the country. The TNA will not support the no-confidence motion against the Defence Minister.