In a surprising move , the former Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake resigned from his ministerial portfolio after making a special statement on the floor of the House and left his front seat to be a backbencher. The Minister’s resignation came ahead of a No-Confidence Motion against him by the Joint Opposition and JVP members who were demanding Karunanayake’s removal on the ground of conflict of interest. The Minister however told the House that it was due to the policies of the Yahapalana Government that a senior Minister could be questioned which eventually led to his resignation form his ministerial portfolio.
During the two and a half year tenure of the National Unity Government, this is the second occasion where a senior Cabinet Minister tendered his resignation. Earlier, in November 2015, the then Law and Order Minister Tilak Marapana resigned his ministerial portfolio over the controversial Avant Garde issue. However, Ministers Marapana’s and Karunanayake’s resignations have set a classic precedence in Sri Lankan political culture as such practices have never been kept by any law maker of the previous regime despite serious allegations levelled against them.
Minister Karunanayake in his 20 minute statement told the House that there is no basis for any allegations against him. But, some groups and certain sections of the media have already found him guilty. He pointed out how the media had acted in an unprecedented manner during the last 10 to 12 days. The Minister said it is the position of the media that I should be crucified, but this is no reason for me to be afraid of such insinuations. Even the Buddha and Jesus Christ were accused wrongly. Citing an example, the Minister said various baseless allegations were levelled against many of the former UNP Leaders in similar manner. Sir John Kotelawala, Dudley Senanayake, Lalith Athulathmudali, Gamini Dissanayake, Ranasinghe Premadadsa and J.R. Jayewardene were accused wrongly in this manner, but later all those allegations against them turned out to be totally false.
The Minister described his resignation from the ministerial portfolio as historic since neither a Minister nor even someone related to a Minister could be questioned by the Attorney General’s Department during the previous regime. Minister Karunanayake in his hard-hitting speech pointed out how certain sections of the media and some Opposition politicians demand that he be pilloried. The Minister attempted to convince the House of his decision to resign from his ministerial portfolio was solely based on the Government’s good governance policy.
Minister Karunanayake in his extensive speech told the House he felt that there was a plot to scuttle the efforts by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to restore democracy and herald a new era. He said those who were rejected outright by the people as they indulged in various frauds, corruption and crimes are involved in this conspiracy against the Government and their intention is to regain power to get away from such vices they committed. However, we will not let those power hungry elements to attack the UNP or to dismantle the Yahapalana Government.
Addressing Parliament soon after the resignation of Karunanayake, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the resignation of Foreign Minister signified a new political culture brought about by the Yahapalana Government and he was proud of having ushered it. The Premier said Ravi Karunanayake’s resignation also reflects the norm that the Government will not interfere with the probe by the Presidential Commission on the Treasury bond scam. However, there is no similar example in the political history of the country so that this has become an unprecedented instance. The incumbent Government has realised its good governance goals having introduced a new political culture. The Premier further said if anyone in the UNP is accused of stealing, we would remove him or her and we will not defend or harbour such crooks.
At this point, Opposition MPs shouted and interrupted the Premier’s speech. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya called upon the shouting Opposition members to let the Prime Minister to continue his speech. Some Opposition MPs shouted that the one who was responsible for Lasantha Wickramatunga and Ekneligoda disappearance was sitting just behind the Prime Minister. Minister Sarath Fonseka too shouted back but his words were not audible.
Premier Wickremesinghe said that he did not accuse anyone of anything and he just explained his party’s position on crooks. Pointing at the shouting Joint Opposition members, the Premier asked why only a section there has got upset and reacted? He said no one in the JVP or TNA was disturbed by what he said.
The Premier said the reaction is a clear indication of where the crooks are. The Premier told the House in lighter vein that there are also “sil-redi horu” and drug dealers. There are also ‘tsunami horu’, ‘carrom board horu’ and ‘cementhi horu’ and that is why they have got upset. But the former Government did not not investigate any such cases during their long tenure of 10 years. The Premier said the former regime killed Lasantha Wickramatunge and abducted and killed Prageeth Ekneligoda.
Several opposition legislators also made special statements on Minister Karunanayake’s resignation and explained their party stance on the issue. JVP MP Sunil Handunneththi told Parliament the resignation of Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake is not a victory for the Government or the Opposition. Far from it, Minister Karunanayake resigned because he would have been sacked had he failed to do so. MP Handunneththi told the House both Karunanayake and the Government are well aware as to why he had to resign. The MP attempted to convince the House that this is not something to be proud of and added that crooks are trying to derive some pleasure that the Government could at least capture one such crook.
However, Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan commended Minister Karunanayake’s resignation from his Ministerial post. He maintained the view that it is a fundamental right that a suspect is presumed to be innocent until he is proved guilty.
The Opposition Leader commended the bold step taken by Minister Karunanayake and added that he has done so in the interest of good governance and the people. He pointed out it is significant that a Minister from the Government has resigned when there are many other individuals in the House charged with corruption and other vices.
Following the Opposition Leader’s statement, a tense situation erupted in the well of the House when Joint Opposition Leader Dinesh Gunawardena lashed out at the Opposition Leader when he commended Minister Karunanayake’s action. This led to a heated exchange of words between the Government and the Joint Opposition members. MP Gunawardena was heard saying ‘shame on you” at the Opposition Leader when he took his seat after making his statement. Soon after MP Gunawardena’s critical remarks, the Government MPs were also seen shouting at MP Gunawardana. UNP MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha raising a Point of Order charged that MP Gunawardena had threatened the Opposition Leader.
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya told Parliament that there is no need to take up the No-confidence Motion against Minister Karunanayake as the latter has resigned from his ministerial portfolio.
The Speaker arrived in the Chamber during a debate on an adjournment motion and made a brief announcement. He said the motion was seeking the approval of the House to remove Karunanayake from the post of Foreign Minister. However, the Speaker said there is no need to further pursue the matter as the Minister has already resigned from his post.
UNP MP Chaminda Wijesiri told Parliament that he intendeds to hand over a No-Confidence Motion against Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Faiszer Musthapha. The MP, observing that the Minister was absent in the House to reply to the questions pertaining to Uva Provincial Council Chief Minister Chamara Dassanayake, alleged that Minister Musthapha had failed in his duties as the subject minister. MP Wijesiri said as an MP in the Yahapalana Government, he is ready to present a No-Confidence Motion against the Minister and requested the backbenchers to back it. He said there is freedom in Yahapalana Government to take such action against the Ministers.