The United National Party (UNP) Working Committee is to meet this morning (17) to make a decision on the status of the proposed no-confidence motion against Justice and Buddhasasana Minister Wijeydasa Rajapaksa.

At least 70 UNP parliamentarians have reportedly signed the no-confidence motion against the Minister but the party’s official stance remains that it will not bring a no-confidence motion against the Minister.

The issue is to be thrashed out at the Working Committee meeting and while party stalwarts expect a favourable outcome, a proportion of the party members are calling for the resignation of Rajapaksa over comments he made regarding the Hambantota Port.

In an interview with a vernacular weekend newspaper the Justice and Buddhasasana Minister said he would regain the Hambantota Port that was leased out to China at a publicized event on July 29.