Govt inches closer to two thirds

Two UNP MPs cross floor:

Irangika RANGE, Sandasen MARASINGHE and Disna MUDALIGE

The Government inched closer to securing a Two Thirds majority in Parliament yesterday after two UNP members crossed over to the ruling party. MPs Prabha Ganeshan and P Digambaram made the symbolic walk across the well of the House amidst howls of protest from UNP MPs and applause from Government members.

The crossovers brought the total number of Government members to 145, just five short of the 150 needed for a Two Thirds majority in the 225 member Legislature.

Among those first to welcome the UNP members were Ministers Mervyn Silva and Jagath Pushpakumara who shook hands with the two members.

MP Digambaram who spoke briefly before crossing over, said he would work with the Government to uplift the living standards of his people. UNP National List MP R Yogarajan was the most vocal critic of MP Digambaram calling him a traitor.

MP Digambaram retaliated by saying the UNP had blundered by appointing traitors like MP Yogarajan from the National List.