President's Head of Expenditure passed without a vote

Twenty-two Heads of Expenditure including that of the President were unanimously passed in Parliament a short while ago without a vote. 

By Sandun Jayawardana
There was speculation that a division (vote) will be called for the President's Head of Expenditure today after a group of United National Party (UNP) MPs publicly stated that they would vote against it. 

Speaking during the Committee Stage Debate, several UNP backbenchers appealed to the party leadership to have a vote on the President's Head of Expenditure. UNP MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka meanwhile, said that he would not support the President's Head of Expenditure. 

When Speaker Karu Jayasuriya asked if there will be a division for the item, UNP MP Chaminda Wijesiri requested that a vote be held. However, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella both stated that a vote was not required.

As such, the Head of Expenditure was approved without a vote, while Mr Wickremesinghe also turned down a request from MP Wijesiri to record his official protest on passing the President's Expenditure without a vote.