A motion to suspend the expenditures of the Prime Minister’s Office was presented to the Parliament by UNP Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake today (29).

The motion was seconded by UNP MP Navin Dissanayake.

The motion states that the Secretary to the Prime Minister has no authority to approve any expenditure drawn from the funds of the Republic.

“Whereas this House on 16th November, 2018, accepted the official statement made by the Hon. Speaker on 15th November, 2018 that, in terms of paragraph 2 of the No Confidence Motion against the Government adopted on 14th November 2018, the Cabinet of Ministers stood dissolved in terms of Article 48 of the Constitution, and accordingly this House further resolved that, since 26th October, 2018, as contemplated in Article 48 of the Constitution, this House had no confidence in the Government including Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa.”

“And whereas Parliament has full control over Public Finance as mandated in Article 148 of the Constitution.”

“Accordingly, that this Parliament resolves that from 15th November, 2018 the Secretary to the Prime Minister has no authority to approve any expenditure drawn from the funds of the Republic, and any person taking any action in violation of this Resolution will be dealt with according to law.”

The motion will be taken up for debate during the parliamentary session today while the vote on the motion is also expected to be taken within the day.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has also stated that they would support the motion.

Meanwhile the MPs of the government are boycotting the parliamentary session for the third day today.