The UNP Working Committee last night unanimously decided to request the President to dissolve Parliament immediately and hold an election.

 

The Working Committee also stated that the party had not deviated from his position over a 225 MP legislature - a position held by the party for the past 15 years.

 

The Working Committee stressed that the no confidence motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was a violation of the mandate expressed by people at the last presidential election. 

 

"The election manifesto of President Maithripala Sirisena clearly stated that Ranil Wickremesinghe would be appointed as the Prime Minister under the administration of President Maithripala Sirisena. It was on those grounds that the UNP Leader was appointed as the Prime Minister. That mandate was given under special circumstances. Therefore, the no confidence motion against the Prime Minister does not have any basis," the UNP Working Committee stressed.