NCM against Justice Minister defeated with 116-vote majority

Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara survived a major Opposition challenge in Parliament after the no-confidence motion brought against him was defeated by a majority of 116 votes. The motion, moved by SJB Kalutara District MP Ajith P. Perera, was defea…

Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara survived a major Opposition challenge in Parliament after the no-confidence motion brought against him was defeated by a majority of 116 votes. The motion, moved by SJB Kalutara District MP Ajith P. Perera, was defeated with 152 MPs voting against it, while 36 MPs supported the motion. No abstentions were recorded. Voting in favour of the motion were the SJB, the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) led by MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, the SLPP, the NDF, Sarvajana Balaya, and Independent Group 17. The ITAK, the Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) represented by MP Selvam Adaikalanathan, the UNP represented by Jeevan Thondaman, the Labour Party represented by MP Kader Mastan, and SJB allied party leaders Mano Ganesan, Palani Digambaram, and V. Radhakrishnan were absent at the time of the vote. The no-confidence motion was submitted by the Opposition over the deadly unrest at the Negombo Prison on July 5 and 6, which resulted in the deaths of several prison officers and inmates and left many others injured. The Opposition accused the Justice Minister of failing to fulfil his responsibilities and ensure accountability over the security and welfare of those in custody. The motion was signed by Opposition MPs, including Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, and was formally handed over to Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne earlier this week. Opening the debate, Opposition MPs strongly criticised Nanayakkara’s handling of the prison crisis and argued that political responsibility should be taken for the incident. Government MPs, however, rejected the allegations, defending the Minister and arguing that he could not be held personally responsible for an incident that occurred within the prison system. They questioned the basis for the no-confidence motion and maintained that the Opposition’s move was politically motivated. The vote outcome saw the Government successfully rally its parliamentary majority behind the Justice Minister, allowing him to continue in his ministerial post. The motion was the first major parliamentary challenge faced by Nanayakkara since taking office and came amid wider debate over prison administration, security measures and accountability within the justice system.