By The Pulseline News Desk
The no-confidence motion submitted by the Opposition against Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne will not be taken up for debate in Parliament on November 3, as the Opposition failed to revise and resubmit the motion within the stipulated deadline, Leader of the House, Minister Bimal Ratnayake has said.
Minister Ratnayake said the Opposition had been required to amend the motion in accordance with Parliament’s Standing Orders and resubmit it by October 28. However, the revised motion had not been submitted within the prescribed timeframe.
The motion had previously been scheduled for debate on November 3 following a decision by the Committee on Parliamentary Business.
Explaining the change in Parliament’s agenda, Ratnayake said an adjournment debate would instead be held on November 3, replacing the planned debate on the no-confidence motion.
However, the Government has left open the possibility of a debate if the Opposition submits a revised motion that complies with the relevant parliamentary procedures.
Ratnayake said the Government could allocate time for such a debate before the commencement of the parliamentary debate on the 2027 Appropriation Bill.
The development means the Opposition’s attempt to bring the Speaker’s conduct under parliamentary scrutiny will not proceed on the originally scheduled date, although the matter could return to the parliamentary agenda if the procedural requirements are met.
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