A Constitutional Law expert pointed out that Government Ministers would first have to resign from the Cabinet before voting for the No-confidence Motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Legal Luminary, Dr. Jayampathy Wickremaratne commenting on the news reports quoting certain SLFP Ministers who claimed that the entire SLFP contingent in the government will vote for the No-confidence motion on April 4, said the last paragraph in the Motion clearly states the no-confidence motion was against the Government in addition to the Prime Minister.
“According to Parliamentary tradition, a Minister has to resign before voting for a No-confidence motion against the Government,” he explained.
Clarifying his argument further, Dr. Wickremaratne said under Article 30 of the Constitution, the President is the Head of Government. The Constitution also provides that the President chairs the Cabinet.
“I can’t see how a Minister in the Cabinet voting against the Head of Government before first resigning from his office,” Dr. Wickremaratne said.
The No-confidence motion against the PM is to be taken up in Parliament this Wednesday, April 4, and debated for 12 hours from 9.30 a.m. to 9.30 p.m. Earlier last week, the party leaders agreed not to have a secret vote on the NCM.