All Eyes On Budget Vote
By Nirmala Kannangara
All eyes will be on the 2015 budget vote tomorrow following the political developments last week after former Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena announced he will contest against President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential elections in January.
Sirisena, on Friday, said a decision had not been taken on if the defectors will oppose or abstain at tomorrow’s final vote on the budget.
The budget was passed during the second vote in Parliament but the JHU was absent at the time the vote was taken.
Meanwhile former Fisheries Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, at a press conference last week apologized to the general public for voting for the 18th amendment and added that once Maithripala Sirisena comes into power, the 18th amendment would be repealed.
“This executive system has become a curse to the country and that is why we crossed over and joined the common opposition to abolish this. We will abolish this system within 100 days after coming into power and no one should have doubts over the assurance,” Dr. Senaratne added.
Dr. Senaratne said that Maithripala Sirisena would become a refined President under whom law and order would see the light of the day.
“At a time no one was dared to stand against J.R. Jayawardena, together with Colvin R. de Silva, Vasudeva Nanayakkara and other opposition politicians who were against the executive presidency we staged protests. Now also we are not sacred to stand up against Mahinda Rajapaksa. If I am killed today make Maithripala Sirisena the next President over my dead body. We are ready to fight against presidential terrorism. We are against injustice and would not sell our soul for money. We want to give you all a surprise in the days to come as no one could believe what will happen,” Dr. Senaratne added.
Former President Chandrika Bandaranayake Kumaranatunge said that she is happy as she could enters her political ancestral home after nine years.
She said that she came forward to support the common opposition to stop those who are in power from further engaging in corruption and murder. “We all have to get together and fight against what is happening in the country and save the people who are starving,” she said.
