UNP decides to vote against 2008 Budget

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 November 2007, 16:49 GMT]
The parliamentary group of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) Wednesday met after the delivery of the 2008 budget by the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse and unanimously decided to vote against the budget. The crucial vote on the 2008 budget is to take place on November 19 amid claims and counter claims by the ruling party and the main opposition party that cross over of parliamentarians from both sides.

Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe, opposition leader presided.

Members of the UNP including its leader Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe did not attended the tea party in the mid of budget speech by President Mahinda Rajapakse, breaking the century old parliamentary practice, political sources said.

SL parliament's composition:

Speaker - 01

Government side: -117
United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) - 66
Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) –08
UNP (cross over) - 06
UNP (Democratic Group) - 17
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) -10
Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) -08
Upcountry Peoples Front (UPF) -02


Opposition side: - 107
United National Party (UNP) - 44
Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP-M) - 02
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) - 22
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) - 38
Jathika Hela Urumaya (Rebel) - 01


Chronology: