Unseating of Ahamed no deterrent:
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The unseating of Batticaloa District Opposition MP Naseer Ahamed for voting for the 2022 Budget during its Third Reading on Dec 10, 2021, was widely expected to serve as a deterrent to other dissidents, but over 20 MPs voted for or against the 2024 Budget last week in violation of their parties’ stances on the Appropriation Bill. The majority of them were SLPP members.
In October 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the expulsion by the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) of the then Environment Minister Naseer Ahamed. The MP was found guilty of acting against the SLMC’s decision to vote against the 2022 Budget.
Soon after the SC decision, SLMC General Secretary Nizam Karipper said that the expulsion of Nazeer Ahamed would have a bearing on the 2024 Budget vote in Parliament. He said so in response to The Island query. MPs would think twice before switching allegiance to another party for personal gain, he predicted.
Dissident SLPP MP Ranasinghe was among those who voted against the Budget. Ranasinghe, who was sacked as the Sports Minister over the continuing dispute over Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) corruption, voted against the SLPP’s decision to back the Budget.
According to a list prepared by the Office of Chief Government Whip, three Opposition MPs A. H. M. Fowzie, Ali Sabry Raheem, who had been expelled by All Ceylon Makkal Congress over failed gold and smartphones smuggling bid, and Vadivel Suresh, voted for the Budget.
Those who voted against the SLPP’s decision to back President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s budget after having elected/appointed on the SLPP lists were Prof. G.L. Peiris, Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila, Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, Jayantha Samaraweera, Lalith Ellawala, Udayana Kirindigoda, Wasantha Yapa Bandara, Shan Wijayalal de Silva, Dallas Alahapperuma, Weerasumana Weerasinghe, Dr. Upul Galappaththi, Dr. Thilak Rajapaksha, Gunapala Ratnasekera, Jayantha Herath, Dayasiri Jayasekera, Prof. Channa Jayasumana, Sarath Kumarasiri, Maithripala Sirisena, Dilan Perera, Gamini Waleboda, Sarathi Dushmantha, Mohammed Muzammil, Gevindu Kumaratunga and Prof. Charitha Herath.
In addition to them, SLPP MPs Chamal Rajapaksa and Namal Rajapaksa abstained contrary to a decision taken by the government group at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.
The vote on the Budget also divided those who had distanced themselves from the SLPP with some voting against, some for and the rest skipping it. Of them Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and Priyankara Jayaratne voted for, while Dr. Sudhashini Fernandopulle, Chandima Weerakkody, Nimal Piyatissa, Asanka Nawaratne, Uddhika Premaratne and Prof. Tissa Vitharana abstained.
MPs Vasudeva Nanayakkara and Dr. Gayeshan Nawanandana, both of the Democratic Left Front, who also entered Parliament on the SLPP ticket, took different stands at the Budget vote. Nanayakkara abstained, while Dr. Nawanandana backed Wickremesinghe’s Budget.
Three SJB MPs, namely Manusha Nanayakkara, Harin Fernando and Diana Gamge, voted for the Budget.The SLFP was also divided over the vote. Of the 14 MPs (12 elected on SLPP ticket, one appointed on the SLPP National List, and one elected on the SLFP ticket). However, the only MP elected on the SLFP ticket, from Jaffna electoral district, skipped the vote.
Tamil political parties couldn’t reach consensus on the Budget. Some MPs, including former LTTE cadre Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pilleyan of the TMVP, voted for the Budget, along with Douglas Devananda and Kulasingham Thilipan, both of the EPDP.Of the Opposition MPs present, former justice C.V. Wigneswaran was the only MP to refrain from voting.