UNP absent as Emergency Regulations extended

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 July 1999, 18:45 GMT]
The bill to extend the emergency regulations by a month was passed in the Sri Lankan Parliament today with 144 voting for the bill while six MPs voted against the extension.

MPs of the main Sri Lanka opposition United National Party (UNP) and those of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) were absent during the voting, said sources.

Among those voting against the bill were MPs of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) and Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO).

Among those voting in favour were MPs from the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) , and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC).

MPs from the northern provinces complained of the recent harassment of civilians by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA). They also called on the Sri Lankan government to hold talks with the LTTE.