The ruling party decided not to take up the motion on forming a national government in Parliament today, as it did not want to suspend Standing Orders and proceed with the debate, a senior government spokesman added. 

According to Standing Orders, the spokesman said, the motion should be taken up after five working days from submission. "Had we decided to proceed with the motion, we would have had to suspend the Standing Orders," he added. 

He stated that the motion on forming a national government would be taken up in Parliament at the next session. 

The motion was handed over to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya by Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella last week. The move was criticized by President Maithripala Sirisena in his Independence Day speech. 

However, the UNP said it would proceed with the motion, irrespective of the President's opposition to the national government.