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The United National Front (UNF) Government this week was left with egg on its face after suffering a stinging defeat to two key Ministries during the Committee Stage debate of Budget 2019 — not the first time during the past few months.

The humiliating defeat of Expenditure Heads of the Ministry of Internal & Home Affairs and Provincial Councils & Local Government and the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development exposed an appalling level of complacency on the part of the UNF and total disregard of its MPs to follow instructions from its leadership to be present in Parliament during the Budget debate, especially at voting time.

The operation to defeat the Expenditure Heads of the two ministries was successfully carried out by the “Joint Opposition” faction of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA). On Friday, gleeful UPFA MPs were calling for the resignations of Provincial Councils  Minister Vajira Abeywardena and Megapolis Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka.

The UNF claimed that the UPFA faction had violated an informal agreement reached at a Party Leaders’ Meeting not to have a vote taken during the Committee Stage debate of the Budget. Nevertheless, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, on Friday, acknowledged that the Government had to bear responsibility for the fiasco as it did not have enough MPs in the chambers to prevail during the vote.

The defeat did prompt the resignation of UNP MP Prof. Ashu Marasinghe from his post as Assistant Chief Government Whip. In his resignation letter to Premier Wickremesinghe, Prof. Marasinghe said he was shocked by the defeats of the Heads of Expenditure and that he decided to take responsibility and resign.

That the Government was caught napping was amply demonstrated by the fact that less than 20 of its MPs were present in the chamber when UPFA MP Ranjith de Zoysa suddenly rose to ask for a division on several Expenditure Heads of the Ministry of Internal & Home Affairs and Provincial Councils & Local Government on Thursday evening. At the time, the House had already passed a number of Expenditure Heads of the same Ministry unanimously without amendments.

Quorum bells were sounded and dozens of ‘JO” MPs emerged. Though UNF MPs frantically tried to contact any of their fellow members who were near Parliament, Head of Expenditure Number 260 of the Ministry was soon defeated by a majority of 18 votes, with 38 voting against and just 20 voting in favour.

Thereafter, the UPFA asked for a division on all remaining Expenditure Heads of the Ministry. Accordingly, Expenditure Heads 261-319 and 321 were defeated by 38 votes to 23.

All Expenditure Heads of the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development were then defeated by 38 votes to 24.

Two Tamil National Alliance MPs supported the Government. No JVP MPs or SLFP MPs affiliated to President Maithripala Sirisena were present.

Earlier, during the debate on the Provincial Councils Ministry itself, the Government came under flak over its failure to hold the PC elections for more than 18 months. UPFA MP Dullas Alahapperuma also took issue with the TNA for not raising its voice strongly over the issue, noting that the PCs were established under the 13th Amendment with the aim of making the Tamil people stakeholders in the political process.

TNA Leader R. Sampanthan, though, stressed that his party was in complete agreement with the JO that the PC elections should be held as soon as possible. He pointed out that there could be no democratic governance unless elections were held and representatives elected to the PCs to establish provincial administration.    Minister Vajira Abeywardena said issues over the new electoral system and delimitation were the cause of the delay.

Parliament this week also debated the Expenditure Heads of the Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, Ministry of Women & Child Affairs and Dry Zone Development, the Ministry of Highways & Road Development and Petroleum Resources Development and Ministry of Power, Energy and Business Development.

In what appeared to be a retaliatory move aimed at showing its strength in numbers, the Government on Friday evening asked for a vote on the Expenditure Head of the Ministry of Highways & Road Development and Petroleum Resources Development.

The Expenditure Head of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Business Development was passed without a division.   Friday was the 14th of 19 days allotted to the Committee Stage debate of the Budget. A final vote on the Third Reading will be taken on April 5.