Budget 2008 passed with majority of 47

Budget 2008 passed with majority of 47
Uditha Kumarasinghe, Irangika Range and Sandasen Marasinghe

* 114 votes for budget, 67 against
* SLFP, UNP-D, CWC, UPF vote for; UNP, TNA, SLFP (M) vote against
* JVP abstains
* Anura Bandaranaike, four TNA MPs absent The Government yesterday won the Third Reading vote of Budget 2008 with a majority of 47 votes.

The crucial vote was considered to be one of the most decisive budget votes in recent history especially in view of defence and national security concerns.
The budget was passed with 114 MPs voting for and 67 voting against. Thirty eight MPs abstained from voting.
The Government led by SLFP and other constituent parties along with the Jathika Hela Urumaya, UNP Democratic Group, Ceylon Workers Congress and the Upcountry People’s Front voted in favour of the budget.
JVP MP Nandana Gunatilleke who abstained from voting at the second reading of the budget, JHU MP Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera and Independent MP V. Puthrasigamani also voted in favour of the budget.
The JVP which opposed the budget at the second reading vote of the budget decided to abstain from voting at the last hour.
SLFP MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe who sat with the Opposition during the second reading budget debate also abstained from voting.
Anura Bandaranaike who sat with the Opposition next to Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe having entered the Chamber from the Opposition side an hour before the Third Reading vote, was absent at the time of the vote.
The United National Party, Tamil National Alliance and four SLMC MPs who broke ranks with the Government to sit with the opposition, voted against the budget. SLFP dissident MPs Mangala Samaraweera and Sripathi Suriyaarachchi also voted against.
Four TNA MPs P. Ariyanethran, Jeyanandamoorthy, Thangeshawari Kathirgamar and M.K. Eeelaventhan were absent at the time of the voting.
It turned into a decisive vote with political crosscurrents and crossovers in Parliament with efforts by the United National Party and the SLFP (M) wing to garner support to defeat the budget at the vote on the Third Reading.
UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella asked for a vote/division by name as the Speaker put the appropriation Bill for the third reading vote. At the Second Reading on November 19, 118 voted for and 102 against.
This was the fourth budget of the UPFA Government. President Mahinda Rajapaksa, presented the Budget on November 7.

‘A clear victory for the fight against terror’ Indika POLKOTUWA
The blessings of the Maha Sangha are with the Government to defeat terrorism and usher permanent peace in the country and the victory at the budget was a victory of the nation at a time the country was heading towards defeating terrorism, the Anunayaka of the Asgiriya Chapter Most Ven. Galagama Attadassi Thera said.
The Nayaka Thera pointed that though the intention of those groups who made efforts to defeat the budget was not clear, those who worked towards the victory of the budget has fulfilled a national requirement on their part.
He said all the efforts made by the Government by putting the LTTE to its weakest position during the past would have been in vain if the budget was defeated.
“This is yet another defeat for the LTTE and people have high hopes that this would usher permanent peace in the country by fully defeating terrorism,” the Anunayake Thera added.
The massive victory of the Government at Budget 2008 will bode well for the country’s future, Information and Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said.
“This is a huge defeat for forces which wanted to strengthen the ailing LTTE. We have been able to defeat these pro-LTTE manoeuvres,” Minister Yapa told the Daily News.
“It is a victory for the people. Budget 2008 pledges to strengthen national security and also has a host of benefits for the people. We will now continue on our progressive path with even more confidence. The Government’s stability cannot be shaken,” he added.
Chief Government Whip Jeyaraj Fernandopulle said winning the Budget vote was significant as the Armed Forces were marching forward. They have launched a massive military operation to defeat the LTTE terrorism. Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was defeated today for the 15th time.
Agriculture Development Minister Maithripala Sirisena said if by any chance the Budget was defeated, the LTTE would have benefitted. The Government was able to defeat these devious designs.
“Terrorism is about to be crushed. The Government’s victory at Budget 2008 will be an impetus to these efforts,” said Defence Affairs Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.
“This reflects people’s blessings for our efforts to defeat terrorism. We have been able to defeat Prabhakaran’s efforts to defeat this Budget and get breathing space for his organisation,” he added.
MP Basil Rajapaksa said it was a victory for the people who had given their mandate to President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The Budget is a progressive plan aimed at benefitting the people and developing the country. The Government can now go ahead with these plans with more vigour, he remarked.

Friday, 14 December
Opposing Budget will help ailing LTTE; Pro-LTTE manoeuvres will be defeated :
Govt majority intact - Media Minister Anura Yapa
Rohan MATHES
Media Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Anura Priyadarshana Yapa yesterday reiterated that the Government still has a clear majority in Parliament to defeat the ‘unseen hand’ striving to resuscitate the weakened LTTE at this crucial juncture.
Anura Priyadarshana Yapa Addressing journalists at the weekly Cabinet briefing at the Government Information Department Auditorium in Narahenpita, Minister Yapa was of the firm view that at a decisive period when the LTTE was on the verge of being completely annihilated militarily, certain politicians were engaged in political manoeuvres to permit ‘breathing space’ to the LTTE.
“We have no problem whatsoever in maintaining a majority in Parliament and winning the Budget vote. While defeating the LTTE militarily, we will in due course, take the necessary steps to defeat these political manoeuvres as well”, Minister Yapa said.
“Therefore, if we are not encountering any impediments in the process and are able to sail smoothly, there is no reason whatsoever to dissolve Parliament.
On that basis the next election would be held in 2010”, Minister Yapa added.
Fielding questions from journalists Minister Yapa further said that a majority of the minority parties who are also sons of Sri Lanka, are with the Government and losing the support of a few of them, by no means would weaken the Government.
It also does not imply that the minorities are aggrieved with the Government and therefore withdrawing their support to it.
Responding to a question pertaining to the support of the CWC at the ‘Third Reading of the Budget’, Minister Yapa stated that as a political party they could have their own views.
However, to this moment he was still confident the CWC would extend its support to the government this time too.
Answering a query on the curtailment of former Minister Rauf Hakeem’s security staff, Minister Yapa stated that as a Minister he was entitled to a specific security staff and later when he made a personal decision to resign from his portfolio as Minister, he was again entitled to a pre-determined staff as a normal routine.

14 December, 2007 - Published 15:12 GMT
Budget vote lost 'because of JVP'

The main opposition in Sri Lanka has accused President Rajapaksa's political ally, Janatha vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), of playing a double game at the budget vote.
The United National Party (UNP) says however it has not given up attempts to topple the government.
UNP General Secretary, Tissa Attanayake, said many other senior members from the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) were about to cross over had the momentum was with the opposition.
'Pro-public' party
"We did play our role. Now the country knows that only UNP represents the general public in Sri Lanka," he told BBC Sandeshaya.
National heritage minister Anura Bandaranaike crossed over to the opposition just hours ahead of the crucial vote.
The government won the vote for the third reading of the budget with a 47-majority.
The JVP that voted against the budget for the second reading on 19 November, abstained from voting on Friday.
"What is the policy of the JVP ?" Tissa Attanayake questioned.
JVP 'now patriotic'
JVP's last minute decision to abstain from voting was a hailed as a 'patriotic move' by Buddhist monk -led Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU).
JHU leader Ellawala Medhananda thero thol BBC Sandeashaya that individuals or parties amy change their policies and strategies from time to time.
JHU strongman, Environmental Affairs minister Champika Ranawaka, accused the JVP of supporting 'Tamil Tiger agenda' after the party voted against the budget on 19 November.
But the JVP's latest move can be described as a patriotic one, Medhananada thero said.
"Todays' victory, I must emphasise, was a strong slap on the face for international and all other unpatriotic conspirators," the thero told BBC Sinhala.com.
Government's saviour
The JVP, meanwhile added that the party still oppose the budget proposed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as Finance Minister.
But the party decided at the last moment to defeat 'political conspiracies' by abstaining in the vote for the third reading, JVP legislator Vijitha Herath said.
"We noticed many in the ruling party joined with the conspirators in the opposition," he said.
The former JVP minister denied the party acted to protect Rajapaksa government because many JVP parliamentarians were worried about their pensions had the government was forced to call for fresh elections.
Sri Lankan parliamentarians are entitled to pension only after completing five years in office.
'Unpatriotic conspiracies'
Vijitha Herath also categorically denied the party's action resulted in government emerging victorious in the vote.
"We did not have to save the government because they had 114 votes," he said.
But the UNP General Secretary said many legislators were waiting to support the opposition had the JVP voted against the budget.
"There has been a strong change in the parliamentary power structure just because JVP changed their stance at the last moment " Tissa Attanayake said.
Political parties representing minorites, including the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) and Up Country peoples Front (UPF), were reported to be ready to vote against the budget had the JVP joined the opposition.

S.Lanka to see extra $486 mln inflow from T-bonds
Reuters - Saturday, December 15COLOMBO, Dec 14 -
Sri Lanka will see an additional $486 million inflow through the central bank's decision to increase foreign investment in rupee denominated treasury bonds, central bank data showed on Friday.
However, currency dealers said the decision will hit exporters and increase the trade deficit in short term.
"If all bonds are bought by foreigners in near future, the rupee might fall down to 105 per dollar, which will not be attractive to exports," said Chirantha Caldera, a currency dealer in Commercial Bank of Ceylon.
"Exporters will get hit and trade deficit will widen, because of a sudden appreciation of the rupee."
Central bank decided to increase foreign investments in rupee denominated bonds to 10 percent from 5 percent of the total outstanding amount of t-bonds from Nov. 30.
The new directive will allow foreigners to buy an additional 53 billion rupee worth of rupee bonds, which is 5 percent of the total outstanding of t-bill worth 1,060 billion rupees as at now, central bank data showed on Friday.
The rupee rose 2.1 percent to 108.15/20 last week alone on speculation of a dollar inflow through the central bank's decision to double the foreign-held rupee bonds.
However, central bank data showed foreign investors held only 47 billion rupees worth bonds out of 106 billion rupee worth maximum permitted level.
The rupee has risen just over 4 percent to nearly 109.00 per dollar from a record low of 113.57/113.62 hit on Sept. 18, after the central bank sold a $500 million sovereign bond in October in addition to increased foreign investments in rupee-bonds.
The central bank's decision to relax the capital account to foreigners came after it rejected all bids in three straight bond auctions, citing yields demanded by investors were higher than what is warranted, given the current macro economic situation.
Weekly bond auctions have been cancelled during the last two weeks, which has created pressure on treasury bill rates.
Sri Lanka's benchmark 91-day T-bill rate rose to a six-year high by 96 basis points to 18.99 percent at Wednesday's weekly auction and the central bank rejected the high yields demanded for longer dates, preferring not to sell the paper.
Last week, the 182 T-bill rate rose 94 basis points to 19.73 percent and the 364-day rate rose by 89 basis points to 19.96 percent. Both were at their highest level since April 2001.
Sri Lanka's trade deficit narrowed slightly to $2.85 billion in the first ten months of 2007 from $2.96 billion in the same period last year, the central bank said on Friday.