At the end of two day long debate on the motion brought in by nine UPFA MPs, DNA National List MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake got up and proposed several amendments to be included in the motion.

As Leader of the House Irrigation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that the government was against the amendments, Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa moved the House for a vote.  Forty nine MPs of the Opposition voted in favour of including the DNA proposed amendments to the motion while 144 government MPs voted against it, thereby defeating DNA amendments. The UNP, DNA and TNA voted for the amendments.

Thereafter UNP Matara District MP Mangala Samaraweera got up and presented his parties’ amendments to the motion. Leader of the House raised again and said the government was opposing to the UNP amendments. As there was no change in the number of MPs in the House, Speaker Rajapaksa said that a majority of the House would vote against it and refused the UNP request to include amendments to the motion.

Special Reporter