The second no-confidence motion brought by the opposition against a minister of the National People’s Power (NPP) government within a three-month period was defeated last Friday (24).

Although Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara had already accepted responsibility for the recent riot at the Negombo prison, this no-confidence motion was brought forward. The opposition’s demand was that he should resign.

As expected, 152 votes were cast against the motion and 36 votes in favor. Even the 40 Members of Parliament from Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa’s party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), did not vote together.

Prior to this, a no-confidence motion brought against the former Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody regarding alleged irregularities in coal procurement for power generation was defeated on April 10 by a majority of 104 votes.

However, after President Anura Kumara Dissanayake appointed a committee to investigate the procurement, Jayakody resigned from his ministerial post on April 17, stating that he was doing so to facilitate an independent investigation.

Given that the NPP government holds a two-thirds majority (159 seats) in Parliament, no matter how many no-confidence motions the opposition brings forward, it serves no purpose. Opposition members can only speak against the government for their own satisfaction and leave.

Replying to the debate on the no-confidence motion, Minister Nanayakkara stated, “Only those currently out on bail and those afraid of going to prison want me to resign. Therefore, I will not step down.”

SJB Kalutara District MP Ajith P. Perera, who introduced the no-confidence motion in the House and initiated the debate, strongly condemned Minister Nanayakkara for not resigning despite accepting responsibility for the Negombo prison riot.

Ajith P. Perera remarked that Nanayakkara should have set an example by resigning now, just as Dr. Nissanka Wijeyeratne, the Justice Minister of the then United National Party (UNP) government, resigned after two inmates were killed in a riot at Welikada Prison on November 11, 1988.

Is Ajith P. Perera unaware that the very same Nissanka Wijeyeratne was also the Justice Minister when 53 Tamil prisoners were massacred in the same Welikada Prison during Black July in 1983? He did not resign following those killings, remaining in office for another five years.