Vote on Account in Jan. says SLPP

By Nuwan Senarathna

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday said it plans to present a Vote on Account in early January to allocate funds to State institutions.    

“The Finance Ministry has already taken the necessary measures to prepare the Vote on Account to allocate funds for key Government institutions, which are crucial to continue the functions of the State,” SLPP MP W. D. J. Seneviratne told reporters at the Prime Minister’s Office.

He pointed out that until 31 December, Parliament had allocated funds for Ministries and Government institutions, insisting the State would continue to function without any interruption until the end of 2018.

“By this time of the year, the Appropriation Bill for next year should have been passed in Parliament, but due to the current political crisis, we were unable to table such a Bill. Therefore, we are expecting to present a Vote on Account.”

Seneviratne argued that President Maithripala Sirisena is vested with the authority to allocate funds from the Consolidated Fund with the approval of the Finance Minister until an Appropriate Bill could be passed in Parliament.  

He also charged that a motion presented by a group of United National Party (UNP) MPs to limit access to public finance by the Secretary to the Prime Minister was an attempt to immobilise the country. 

“The UNP is trying to drag the country down to gain political advantages. That is why they presented such motion” he added.

He insisted that a general election would be the best way to resolve the current political crisis. “If the UNP is genuinely dedicated to stabilising the current political turmoil, all they have to do is to support a general election.”

Speaking to reporters, MP Vidura Wickramanayaka said SLPP would face a no confidence motion if it was brought in through the correct process. “Standing orders stand to protect the Parliament. If we try to ignore them or suspend them, it might lead to serious consequences.”

He criticised Speaker Karu Jayasuriya for suspending Standing Orders, which he contended led to the terrible behaviour of Parliamentarians. He charged that it was through the actions of the Speaker that the public lost respect for the House.