MP Marasinghe resigns over expenditure heads defeat

United National Party (UNP) lawmaker Prof. Ashu Marasinghe tendered his resignation yesterday from the post of Assistant Chief Government Whip in Parliament, expressing his shock over Thursday’s defeat of several expenditure heads. 

Prof. Marasinghe, in a letter addressed to UNP Leader Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, accepted the responsibility for the defeat of expenditure heads even though it is the responsibility of the Government Parliamentarians to be present in the Parliament at all times during the Budget days and while divisions are taken.

“I am deeply shocked and regret the loss of expenditure heads of two key Ministries. I trust the Chief Government Whip, the two Deputy Whips and the Assistant Whip are equally responsible for this defeat. Despite my full efforts, the expenditure heads were lost and I am unable to set this loss aside,” he said.

Pledging to continue to support the UNP and the Government in its future endeavours, MP Marasinghe offered personal apologies to the Minister of Internal and Home Affairs and Provincial Councils and Local Government Wajira Abeywardana and the Minister of Megapolis and Western Development Patali Champika Ranawaka for the inconvenience caused. (AH)