Opposition to supplementary estimates

The Government will seek Parliamentary approval in respect of supplementary estimates of over Rs 650 million for seven ministries when Parliament meets on Tuesday with the JVP saying it will oppose them and the UNP deciding tomorrow on the Party’s stance.

Three of the supplementary estimates will be for the ministries created in January this year for UNP MPs R.M.Dharmadasa Banda, G.L.Peiris, Mahinda Wijesekara and Rajitha Senaratne who crossed over. The money is being sought for services in the financial year beginning in January 2007 and ending in December. All the estimates have been approved by the Cabinet.

The supplementary estimates sought are Rs. 107.7 million for the Supplementary Plantation Crops Development Ministry headed by Mr. Dharmadasa Banda, Rs. 94 million for the Export Development and International Trade Ministry headed by Prof. Peries, Rs. 127.9 million for the Construction and Engineering Services Ministry headed by Dr. Senaratne, Rs. 48.3 million for the Special Projects Ministry headed by Mr. Wijesekara, Rs. 30.3 million for the National Heritage Ministry headed by Anura Bandaranaike, Rs. 127.5 million for the Public Estate Management and Development Ministry headed by Milroy Fernando and a supplementary estimate of Rs 121.5 million for the Water Supply and Drainage Ministry headed by A.L.M.Athaullah.

The move to bring in the supplementary estimates has been strongly opposed by the JVP which said the reason for this has been the creation of several new ministries after the Government presented its Budget in November last year. However Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Michael Perera said the UNP Parliamentary group would meet on Monday and decide how it would vote.

The JVP, in media release said that this massive amount is being allocated for the remaining six months of the year when the public being inconvenienced by the rising cost of living and that its 39 members in Parliament will vote against the motion on Tuesday.