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| Tuesday, 7 December 2004 |
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| Overwhelming majority for Defence Budget by Our Parliament Correspondents The Vote on Defence Ministry budgetary provisions was marked by high drama yesterday with the UNP, SLMC, JHU and CWC voting for the expenditure heads under the Defence Ministry budget, while UNP MP T. Maheshwaran broke ranks with his party to vote with the TNA against the allocations. The SLMC too went its own way voting with the Government for the expenditure heads under the Ministry of Public Security, Law and Order, although an electoral partner of the UNP. The Defence vote was passed with an overwhelming majority of 118 with 140 voting for and 22 against. TNA MP. R. Sampanthan called for a division by name and most of UNP members who were present in the House at the time including opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe voted for the Defence budget. When the vote was taken by name, Maheshwaran who was at the time sitting with the TNA members said he was voting against the Defence Ministry budget. At this stage Chief Government Whip Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle pointed out that any member who votes has to do so from his allocated seat in the House. He pointed out that Maheshwaran was not in his seat. At this point Speaker W. J. M. Lokubandara ordered Maheshwaran to come to his seat. Maheshwaran did so and voted against the Defence Ministry budget along with the TNA. Thereafter, the Vote on the Minister of Public Security, Law and Order was passed with a majority of 95 with 117 voting for and 22 against. This time, the UNP abstained from voting, but, Maheshwaran voted against along with TNA members. The SLMC, too voted for Minister of Public Security, Law and Order Ministry allocation along with the CWC and JHU. Chief Opposition Whip Mahinda Samarasinghe said UNP was abstaining from voting due to the deterioration of law and order in the country. At the time, Maheshwaran also stood up apparently to make a statement but was not given way. |
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