Whither SJB?

THE main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) seems to be in a disarray and this can be seen in some of the public comments of its members and actions. The no-confidence motion against Deputy Minister of Defence Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Aruna Jayasekara is the latest ill thought out action of the SJB.

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The grounds for bringing the motion is that Jayasekara had served as Security Forces Commander of the Eastern Province in 2019 but had failed to prevent the Easter Sunday terrorist bombings even though he was privy to growing extremist activity in the area and that an impartial probe into the terror attacks is impossible while he continues to function as Deputy Minister of Defence.

While there is no procedural roadblock to bringing a no-confidence motion against a deputy minister, convention dictates that such motions be brought against the Prime Minister, a Cabinet Minister or the Speaker. There is also room to bring substantive motion against the conduct of an MP, but the facts in the NCM refer to his conduct long before Jayasekera became an MP and hence his past conduct cannot be questioned.