Sri Lankan parliament on Wednesday passed a motion expressing confidence in Ranil Wickremesinghe to function as the Prime Minister and forwarded it to President for action.

The United National Party and the Tamil National Alliance voted in favor of the motion as MPs supporting Mahinda Rajapaksa continued to boycott the parliament. Rajapaksa side said they will not accept anything done and said in an illegal and undemocratic parliament adding anything passed in it is null and void.

Ranil Wickremesinghe, thanking the MPs, stated that everyone should act respecting the constitution and that the constitution is the prime law of the country. Mr. Wickremsinghe said he is committed to a political solution without dividing the country and pledged to abolish executive presidency.

Speaker Karu Jaysurya forwarded the motion to President Maithripala Sirisena saying it has passed in accordance with standing orders of parliament. The motion assumes significance as President Sirisena has repeatedly refused to reappoint Wickremsinghe as PM.

Meanwhile, the decision of Supreme Court on decision to dissolve parliament is still awaited. The court has heard the matter last week and a decision is expected by Friday. The court will hear on Friday an appeal petition filed by Rajapaksa challenging an interim order of lower court restraining his cabinet from functioning. There has been a flurry of petitions filed in the court during past few weeks related to the political crisis. A petition has been filed against President’s reported attempt to seek an early decision on dissolution issue while another has challenged Wickremsinghe right to be an MP.