State Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena has said that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Ministers and MPs who voted in the no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister would be stepping down from their posts in the unity government from midnight tonight.

16 Ministers and MPs voted against the Prime Minister in the no-confidence motion that was debated in Parliament on April 4th.

The fate of the 16 Ministers and MPs was in the balance after the vote on the Prime Minister, when several of the UNP back benchers attempted to bring a no-confidence motion against them, for having no faith in the Premier.

The move was thwarted by the Premier who asked the UNP backbenchers to withdraw the NCM against the 16, saying the UNP would come to collective stance on the 16 SLFP Minister and MPs after consultations with the Working Committee.

President Maithripala Sirisena had also refused to sack the 16 Ministers and MPs of the SLFP, even though they had displayed no faith in the unity government by voting against the Prime Minister.