rapa
12-07-2007, 10:56 AM
The Defence Ministry vote was passed with 141 voting in favour and 15 opposing it. Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayaka, Ministers Mahindananda Aluthgamage, G.L. Peiris, and Dinesh Gunawardena and the Ven. Athureliye Rathana thero, Defence Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella expressed support to the budget.
In the early morning in Parliament, the LTTE's TNA Parliamentarian Mavei Senadhiraja requested for a ballot the motion was put to a vote.
The JVP which voted in favour also proposed an increase in defence expenditure. As expected TNA, Mano Ganeshan and UNP Parliamentarian T. Maheswaran voted against it while Upcountry People's Front Leader P. Chandrasekeran, CWC Leader Arumugam Thondaman and SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem were not in Parliament during the voting.
The UNP and the SLFP (M) of Mangala-Sripathi abstained from voting.
A verbal confrontation between JVP and JHU took place when the former questioned Hakim's and Thondaman's patriotism since they were absent during the voting. The JHU retorted by asking what would have happened to military operations if the budget was defeated on Nov.19 because the JVP voted against it.
The State of Emergency too was extended today with 141 voting in favour and 15 voting against it. The JVP voted in favour while the TNA, Mano Ganeshan and UNP MP T. Maheshwaran voted against it. The UNP abstained from voting while UPF leader P. Chandrasekeran, CWC leader A. Thondaman and SLMC leader . Hakeem were absent during the vote.
In the early morning in Parliament, the LTTE's TNA Parliamentarian Mavei Senadhiraja requested for a ballot the motion was put to a vote.
The JVP which voted in favour also proposed an increase in defence expenditure. As expected TNA, Mano Ganeshan and UNP Parliamentarian T. Maheswaran voted against it while Upcountry People's Front Leader P. Chandrasekeran, CWC Leader Arumugam Thondaman and SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem were not in Parliament during the voting.
The UNP and the SLFP (M) of Mangala-Sripathi abstained from voting.
A verbal confrontation between JVP and JHU took place when the former questioned Hakim's and Thondaman's patriotism since they were absent during the voting. The JHU retorted by asking what would have happened to military operations if the budget was defeated on Nov.19 because the JVP voted against it.
The State of Emergency too was extended today with 141 voting in favour and 15 voting against it. The JVP voted in favour while the TNA, Mano Ganeshan and UNP MP T. Maheshwaran voted against it. The UNP abstained from voting while UPF leader P. Chandrasekeran, CWC leader A. Thondaman and SLMC leader . Hakeem were absent during the vote.