Validity of National Govt. to be Made Known Today
The Chief Opposition Whip and JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake has raised questions on the validity of the National Government and its Cabinet of Ministers in the absence of any official communication to Parliament of the extension of MoU signed between the SLFP and UNP.He pointed out the initial MoU signed between the two parties was limited to two years, which ended on 31st December 2017 and any extension of the agreement must be informed to the Speaker in writing. He asked whether the Speaker was informed about this matter.
The Speaker in turn said, that he had so far not received any official communication over the continuation of the National Government. The Speaker undertook to inquire about it from Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and inform the house on Wednesday (21).
Intervening Leader of the House and Minister Lakshman Kiriella stated, that neither of the parties in the Unity Government has withdrawn and therefore the National Government continues as before.
However, it was argued by the Opposition that such a decision to continue the Unity Government must be duly informed to the Speaker as previously done by late Wiswa Warnapala, the former General Secretary of the UPFA.
MP Dissanayake pointed out the number of Cabinet Ministers was increased from 30 to 48 and the number of Deputy and State Ministers was increased from 40 to 45 due to the formation of National Government. “Unless Parliament approval is renewed for the National Government, the Cabinet of Ministers would cease to be valid.
The validity of the decisions taken by this Cabinet of Ministers could be disputable , if anybody challenges that before the Supreme Court,” MP Dissanayake said.
