Budget - second reading passed

The stability of the UPFA Government in Parliament was further strengthened and increased with the total number of seats going up to 161 owing to the decision taken by the Colombo District UNP MP Mohan Lal Grero to cross over to the Government and vote in favour of the second reading of the Budget 2012.

Before crossing over to the Government, MP Grero who joined the debate on second reading of the Budget informed the House on his decision taken to vote in favour of the budget. Making an emotional speech in Parliament, the MP informed the House that he decided to extend his support to the Government to develop the education sector for the well-being of the country's children.

Grero was of the view that those who voted him also expected him to fulfil this task on behalf of the country. The MP in his speech highlighted that everybody has the ability to paint a beautiful picture on Sri Lanka if collaborative attempts are made, irrespective of political differences. After voting in favour of the budget, the MP crossed the well of the House and joined the Government amidst applause by the Government members. The Government secured an overwhelming majority of 91 votes at the vote on the second reading of the budget and only 60 votes were received against the budget including the UNP, DNA and TNA MPs. Ten Government MPs and 3 Opposition MPs were absent at the voting which was taken by name.

Another attempt made by the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to make a special statement in Parliament on Tuesday led to an exchange of verbal blows between the Government and the Opposition ranks and finally Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa prevented the Opposition Leader to make his statement as the content of the statement was sub judice.

When the Opposition Leader attempted to make his statement, the Leader of the House, Irrigation and water Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva expressed the Government's strong objection to the statement and maintained the stance that both the beginning and end of the Opposition Leader's statement are interconnected and that its violates the sub judice principle. Minister de Silva who pointed out the inability of debating an issue which is before a court of law requested the Speaker to give a ruling against making the statement.

However, the Opposition Leader who responded to the queries levelled by the Government members informed the House only four sentences of his statement are challenged and that he was willing to omit them if he is allowed to make the statement. He was of the firm view he should not be stopped to make the statement because of these four sentences.

Minister Dinesh Gunawardene who gave a hard hitting reply to the Opposition Leader, alleged when the Government is making arrangements to hold the Commonwealth meeting, the Opposition Leader attempts to make treacherous statements against the country.

Construction and Engineering Services Minister Wimal Weerawansa asked the Opposition Leader in a lighter vein apart from the Commonwealth tie what else he was wearing manufactured by other organisations including Pentagon. Finally the Speaker informed the Opposition Leader that he would decide whether he could be allowed to make his statement and inform his ruling to the House the next day. Wickremesinghe who was not satisfied with the ruling given by the Speaker removed his tie and showed it to the House while the Government members booed him.

Before the commencement of the next day's budget debate, Minister Wimal Weerawansa raising a point order requested the Speaker to give a ruling about the attempt made by the Opposition Leader to remove his tie inside the chamber. UPFA MP A.H.M. Azwer informed the Speaker that the Opposition Leader has violated the Standing Orders of the House by resorting to such unacceptable behaviour in the chamber.

Azwer pointed out the complete attire of a Parliamentarian should contain the tie as well. However Minister Dinesh Gunawardene drew the attention of the House how the late MP W. Dahanayake came to the chamber wearing a loin cloth. Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody who was in the chair requested both sides to refrain from discussing the matter further and he informed the House he will draw the Speaker's attention about it.

The Deputy Speaker told the House in lighter vein that if the matter is discussed further, the members may tend to speak about ladies undergarments as well. While making his speech at the budget debate,Foreign Employment and Welfare Minister Dilan Perera who showed his Sri Lankan Parliament tie requested the Opposition Leader to wear the Sri Lankan Parliament tie at least once in a blue moon when he comes to Parliament.

The Speaker citing another perfect example suspended Petroleum Industries Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardene from attending Parliament for one week after he was found to be the member who behaved in the most disorderly manner while the budget was being presented by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on November 21. The Speaker who vehemently criticised this unruly behaviour committed by some Government and Opposition members pointed out the attempt made by the UNP to display posters and some Government members trying to pull them away was the key reason which led to create this tense situation in Parliament. The Speaker stressed the importance of safeguarding the traditions of Parliament.

Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella speaking during the budget debate said the UNP should talk to their conscience and see whether the manner they behaved in Parliament was correct when the budget was presented.

UNP MP Joseph Michael Perera pointed out the budget has not given a pay hike to the public servants and it has merely given an allowance to them. The MP emphasised the Government members who cannot understand the difference between a salary increase and an allowance applauded when this was announced in Parliament. Minister Wimal Weerawansa who responded to him said the MP in his speech did not say the Government has curtailed any relief given to the people. The Minister whether queried unlike the UNP, has this Government sold any State sector institution to the private sector to reduce the budget deficit? He asked the Opposition whether they found any proposal in this budget which leads to destabilise the country or drag the economy into a long term crisis.

If this is the best budget presented in the world, except criticising it, what else could the UNP do? The Minister who commented on the Opposition Leader's frequent visits to Human Rights Commission in Geneva told the UNP MP Buddhika Pathirana that he can also go to Geneva to complain about various harassments made to him by the Opposition Leader.

Referring to some claims made by the Opposition members, Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake informed them a Government or the Central Bank has no ability to change the statistics as those are prepared according to the accepted international standards. However, he told the House even IMF, World Bank and other international monetary organisations have accepted the success achieved by Sri Lanka under "Mahinda Chinthana".

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa who wound up the debate on the second reading of the budget told the House that he regrets that the Opposition failed to make any constructive criticism on the budget. Senior Minister for Human Resources D.E.W. Gunasekera presented the first COPE report of the seventh Parliament on Thursday which has examined about the financial performance of 229 State institutions.

Both the Government and the Opposition members extended their honour on the impartial and independent role played by Minister Gunasekera as the COPE Chairman.