Sri Lanka News Updates with Discussions

Sri Lanka opposition United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Tissa Attanayake addressing a party meeting in Kandy today said that the government that has no intention to serve the public is spending millions of rupees to win support for the budget.

Sri Lanka government spending millions to win support for the budget
Sunday, 18 November 2007 - 12:01 AM SL Time

Parliament will not be dissolved even if Budget is defeated ?

an unexpected discussion that ensued between HE the President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Leader of the Opposition and UNP leader Ranil Wickramasinghe, the President is supposed to have told the Opposition Leader that he would not dissolve parliament even if the budget is defeated and instead would call the Opposition leader to form the government. This unexpected discussion had taken place when the President unexpectedly called at the 'Bremer' the private residence of late President J.R. Jayawardne to pay his last respect to Lady Elena Jayawardne this afternoon. When the President visited the funeral house, it is said the Leader of the Opposition had been already there to pay his last respect to Lady Jayawardne.

This unexpected but surprising discussion had gone on for some time and President Rajapaksa's proposal had been turned down by the Leader of the Opposition, it is reported. The Leader of the Opposition has supposedly told the President he would only accept the Premiership through an election and if the President wants to continue with this parliament in the event of the budget being defeated, he should then call upon the Jathika Hela Urumaya.

Attempt to prevent opposition MPs from attending budget vote

The government is allegedly attempting to prevent parliamentarians who are doubtful supporters for Budget 2008 from attending the budget vote on November 19th.

This extreme measure is on the cards following the revelation that the government will not be able lure enough opposition MPs to support the budget and many ruling party MPs are going to crossover, or refrain from voting, government sources say.

Winning the budget has become a non-event also after 21 out of the 37 JVP MPs refusing to vote ?yes?.

The Defence Ministry is allegedly involved in this attempt, which include unexpected summons of MPs to the CID and courts and imposing traveling obstacles.

Sudden road closures and searches, purportedly for national security, are also being considered, in an attempt to prevent such parliamentarians from attending Parliament on November 19th, the sources added.