The UNP Opposition of the Southern Provincial Council (SPC) has refrained from voting against the Council Budget for 2009, while the JVP members had opposed it, thus ensuring the passage of the finance bill by seven votes.
On Thursday, when the budget was taken up, all 21 UPFA members, 19 UNPers and 14 JVPers had been present in the Council. At the time of voting the 19 UNP Councillors had walked out

The UNP had claimed that they refrained from voting in protest, as the Central Government had reduced the sum allocated for development of the Southern Province by Rs.2,967 Million in the new budget, in comparison to the sum allocated for the current year.

Leader of the Opposition, Southern Provincial Council Justin Galappaththi told The Nation that the Central Government had allocated nearly Rs.6,626 million for developments in year 2008, whereas they have only allocated Rs.3,462 million for development work in 2009.

“We don’t know the reason why they have reduced the allocation by a broader margin of Rs.2,967 million and although we questioned the reduction, the governing party of the SPC failed to answer our query,” he added.

He also mentioned that they are not willing to go for an election as the term will be ending in September 2009. “We have been elected for five good years to develop the province and see to the needs of the people. If we wanted to go for an election, then it would have been two years ago when the Rajapaksa government was losing people’s confidence. What developments have they done so far other than filling their own pockets,” Galappaththi asserted.
Meanwhile, according to government sources, two Provincial Councils will be dissolved within the next two weeks, although it is yet to be decided which councils they are. - KA

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