SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara addresses the media yesterday along with (from left) MP Nimal Siripala de Silva, MP Ranjith Siyambalapitiya and MP Thilanga Sumathipala 

Pic by Ruwan Walpola

• Says UNP cannot pin blame on SLFP, it’s the responsibility of the Govt.
• Says the Vote on Account provides for April salaries anyway 
• Says the defeat was a result of internal rift in the UNP
  
   

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) yesterday refuted attempts by Minister Vajira Abeywardena to blame the Opposition on the defeat of the Ministry expenditure heads, resulting in inability to pay salaries. 

Refusing the claims made by of Internal and Home Affairs and Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister, SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara claimed that it was the responsibility of the Government to ensure the smooth running of the system ensuring all finances needed are available. 

“If they are running a Government, they should take responsibility; the Minister in charge and the Government should take the responsibility,” he said, speaking at the weekly media briefing held at the party head office. 

SLFP stalwart Nimal Siripala de Silva, speaking to journalists, also said that the United National Party Government should behave responsibly, noting that it was the duty of the Leader of the House and the Party leaders to ensure members were present to vote in favour of the budget. 

“Was it us who lost the vote on expenditure heads? They had the majority in the Parliament, so they should ensure that the expenditure head is passed. After losing that, they are trying to pin the blame on us. They couldn’t bring 50 people to support,” he said. 

“If they are running a government, then they should put in place systems to pay the government servants. If they are saying they cannot, that only displays their inabilities,” he said. 

SLFP Propaganda Secretary Ranjith Siyambalapitiya also stressed that during a Budget debate, ensuring quorum in Parliament and ensuring Government members are present for voting during Committee stage is the responsibility of the Government. 

“This has nothing to do with the Opposition,” he noted. 

Setting the record straight, Siyambalapitiya said that the Vote on Account passed in Parliament provides for payment of salaries for April despite the claims made by the Minister. 

Jayasekara also questioned the ability of the UNP to manage the Government when they are unable to manage rifts within the party, which he claims resulted in the defeat of the two expenditure heads, claiming that even Minister Vajira Abeywardena was not in the Parliament when the vote was taken. 

“This is also an internal issue of the UNP. There were press conferences by their own members who said they will defeat the expenditure when it is taken again,” Jayasekara claimed. “It is not us who have to intervene to solve their issue, nor should the public. They should work on it and resolve disputes on their own. UNP has a responsibility to the Government and the Provincial Councils, and if they don’t have that strength, how are they going to continue to govern?” Jayasekara questioned. 

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