No Opposition member to move the cut

Sandasen Marasinghe, Irangika Range and Disna Mudalige

The committee stage debate on the Appropriation Bill on the financial Heads of five ministries yesterday was commenced by Livestock and Rural Community Development Deputy Minister H R Mithrapala.

He did so since opening speaker from the Opposition who moved the cut and opens the debate as is the tradition, was absent when his name was called by the Chair.

After the presentation of papers and oral questions, Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody announced the name of UNP MP P Harrison who was scheduled to commence the committee stage debate on the Appropriation Bill on behalf of the Opposition, but he was not present in the House.

Dayasiri Jayasekara who was the only UNP member present in the House at the time, rose saying he will move the cut of Rs 10 in respect of all programmes and projects of the finance heads.

The Deputy Speaker announced names of another two members, and as they were not present, he announced the name of Livestock and Rural Community Development Deputy Minister H R Mithrapala.

Mithrapala said that the committee stage debate was the government’s debate but belongs to the opposition. The government has moved the Appropriation Bill and the government only needed to pass it. It is only at the request of the opposition that time was allotted for the debate. Deputy Minister Mithrapala said that the Opposition had to commence the debate.

He added that if they did not need it, the government could pass the Appropriation Bill during Mithrapala’s speech, UNP MP P Harison arrived.