Emergency extended for another month

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 June 2008, 21:01 GMT]
Sri Lanka's parliament Thursday adopted the motion to extend the state of emergency by another month with a majority of 89 votes. 106 parliamentarians voted for the motion and 19 parliamentarians voted against. Parliamentarians of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) were not present in the house at that time when the motion was put to vote, parliamentary sources said.

Parliamentarians of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) voted with the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance.

Parliamentarians of the tamil National Alliance (TNA) and Western Peoples Front (WPF) voted against the motion, sources said.

Meanwhile, new propaganda secretary of the JVP, Vijitha Herath, speaking in parliament requested the government to order an inquiry into the death of Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle who was killed on April 6 in suicide attack.

He said a woman suspect in the incident had committed suicide by taking cyanide while in custody and this should be probed.