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Karu J. appoints 4-member Committee to probe Supplementary Estimate vote
View(s):Speaker Karu Jayasuriya on Friday appointed a four-member Committee headed by Opposition Leader TNA Parliamentarian R. Sampanthan to inquire into and report if the vote taken in the House, on a Rs 55 million supplementary estimate, was duly conducted, following allegations by some opposition MPs that the vote was irregular.
The Committee was appointed after both Chief Opposition Whip JVP MP Anura Dissanayaka and Joint Opposition (JO) group leader UPFA MP Dinesh Gunawardena alleged that the vote taken on Thursday evening was not counted correctly, and the presiding officer at the time, MP Lucky Jayawardene had mishandled the situation.
In the vote taken at the end of the debate on the supplementary estimate, the results were announced as 33 in favour and 31 against. However, both JVP lawmakers and the JO group disputed the results, and along with Parliamentary officials, scrutinised CCTV footage of the proceedings, which showed the vote tied at 31 each.
Speaker Jayasuirya said he would rule on the matter after he gets the committee’s report which is likely to be on May 17, when the House next meets. The other members of the Committee are former Speaker and Hambantota District MP Chamal Rajapaksa, Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapakse and Minister Rauf Hakeem.