Drug rackets: UNP asks JHU, NFF to vote for its No Confidence Motion

John

By Shamindra Ferdinando-February 23, 2014

Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga yesterday said that the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) and the National Freedom Front (NFF) as well as those UPFA members who had been vociferously campaigning against heroin kingpins would be exposed when a motion condemning the failure on the part of the government to eliminate the narcotics trade was taken up.

The former Interior Minister said that the JHU at loggerheads with Premier D. M. Jayaratne over a letter seeking the port clearance of container which was later found to have heroin could vote for the motion.

NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa recently urged President Mahinda Rajapaksa to hang drug kingpins. MP Weerawansa declared that there was no alternative but to implement the death penalty to eliminate heroin cartels.

MP Amaratunga said that the UNP was confident both the JVP and the TNA would support its no faith motion against the government over its failure to arrest the increasing trend of the country becoming the hub of international narcotic trade and to secure and promote the welfare of its citizens.

The motion signed by 31 UNP MPs was handed over to Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dassanayake by Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga.Asked whether the UNP had discussed the move with the JVP and the TNA, Gampaha District MP Amaratunga said that Opposition political parties were confident of reaching an agreement on this. Responding to another query, the MP acknowledged that JVP and TNA members weren’t among the signatories to the motion.

Amaratunga said that they expected the motion would be placed in the Order Book and taken up for debate by the government without delay. The UNPer said that a vote on the motion would reveal the identities of those backing the narcotics trade.

The UNPer said: "We have now given an opportunity to those who are genuinely interested in eliminating the heroin menace to voice their position in Parliament. Those who are genuinely concerned about the deteriorating situation will support the motion and those playing politics with the issue will turn the other way."

The signatories were John Amaratunga, Eran Wickremaratne, Ajith Mannapperuma, Buddhika Pathirana, P. Harrison, Ranjith Maddumabandara, Gamini Jayawickrema Perera, Mangala Samaraweera, Lakshman Kiriella, Ruwan Wijewardene, Harin Fernando, Ranjan Ramanayake, Rosy Senanayake, Akila Wiraj Kariyawasam, Wasantha Aluvihare, Dr Harsha De Silva, Ajith P. Perera, M. H. M. Halim, Nalin Bandara, P. Yogarajan, Nalin Bandara, Chandrani Bandara, Ravi Karunanayake, Karu Jayasuriya, Tissa Attanayake, Wijedasa Rajapakshe, Kabir Hashim, Joseph Michael Perera, Gayantha Karunathilake, Chamipka Premadasa and D.M.Swaminathan.