Rajapaksa to table Budget 2009 Thursday, security tightened in Colombo

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 November 2008, 17:07 GMT]
Tight security has been imposed in and around parliamentary complex located in Jayawardhanapura. Several roads leading to the parliamentary complex have been banned for traffic Thursday morning for one hour and in the evening when parliament concludes its session for the day. The security measures have been taken as the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa is scheduled to table his fourth Budget for the year 2009 in parliament Thursday morning in the capacity of Finance Minister.

In the meantime, the main opposition United National Party (UNP) at a press briefing on Tuesday revealed its shadow budget for the year 2009. The UNP said it would take a decision in due course on the proposed budget to be submitted by the government led by President Rajapaksa.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said it would announce its decision whether to support the government budget or not shortly.

National Freedom Front (NFF), a splinter group of the JVP said its leader Wimal Weerawanse would make a special statement in parliament on the topic. Jathika Hela Urumaya said it has submitted a series of recommendations to the government to incorporate them in its budget. The JHU would take a decision after the budget proposals are revealed whether their recommendations are accommodated or not, parliamentary sources said.

The parliamentary strength of ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance is 118, the parliamentary strength of the opposition is 107 including members of the National Freedom Front, a splinter group of the JVP led by Wimal Weerawanse which has 08 parliamentarians. NFF is reported to be supporting the government.

The parliamentary strength of opposition excluding NFF is 95. Political sources said eighteen members are needed for the opposition to defeat the government budget.