Joint Opposition against supplementary sum vote

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

The Joint Opposition yesterday mooted for the removal of Parliament Secretary General and demanded the resignation of Finance Minister highlighting the controversial vote on the supplementary sum of Rs.55 million.

Unable to voice their concerns during the day’s proceedings, the Joint Opposition urged the nation to action,  holding an urgent media conference at a Parliament Committee Room. MP Wimal Weerawansa seeking resignation of the Secretary General Dhammika Dasanayake charging for wilful publishing of wrong results said: “We don’t have any confidence in the Secretary General. He should extend immediate resignation or the Speaker should remove him from his post. Unless otherwise the Joint Opposition will create a public cry over the breach of democracy. This is the first time the vote results were rigged in the Parliament.”

Opposition lawmaker Dinesh Gunawardana denying the charges of undue pressure used on state officers to check the CCTV footage of the vote said: “We witnessed that the government was short of votes to pass the bill. However, the MP Lucky Jayawardana who was chairing the session evaded the objections by concluding the House illegally passing the bill. But we didn’t pressure the Secretary General or his staff to review footage.”

Meanwhile MP Keheliya Rambukwella charged Speaker Jayasuriya for his conduct in Parliament. “The Speaker is nothing but an instrument of the Prime Minster Ranil Wickremesinghe who preaches the Parliament’s authority over state finance. If not for the Joint Opposition’s objection  the Government would have taken the country for a ride according to their wish.”

 “According to the order paper the supplementary bill was for Rs.55 million. The actual was for Rs.25 billion seeking approval to purchase vehicles for VVIPs, security vehicles, renovation of the Ministry buildings and the Ministers houses. This is an unwarranted action with the VAT increase burdening the public. “MP Bandula Gunawardena said  highlighting the errors in the supplementary bill, adding, “ We are disapproving the video on the recent brawl inside the parliament getting to the hands of media. With the video going out MPs reputations get tarnished badly.”