Parliament adopts UNF second budget

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 November 2002, 07:49 GMT]
The second budget of the United National Front government was passed Thursday in parliament by a majority of thirty-six votes. One hundred twenty nine parliamentarians voted for the budget and ninety three voted against. Parliamentarians of the main opposition People's Alliance (PA), Sinhala hardliner party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the National Unity Alliance (NUA), the breakaway group of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress voted against the budget.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) and Peoples Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) voted with the government.

"The voting has proved beyond doubt the stability of the government now it enjoys," claimed Minister of Constitutional Affairs Professor G.L.Peiris following the adoption of the budget in the second reading.

He said some mischievous elements created an impression in the country that the present government has no majority in parliament. This canard had been spread to weaken the peace process now being taken forward vigorously. The adoption of the budget with a majority 36 votes has put an end to all speculation about the stability of the government and the country. The stability of the country has been strengthened with the dawn of peace following the signing of a ceasefire agreement between the UNF government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.