Supplementary Estimate Voting Debacle Investigation Commenced Today

The four member committee appointed to investigate the controversy surrounding the Supplementary Estimate of 55 million rupees moved by the government for the 2016 fiscal year will commence investigations today.

The Supplementary Estimate of 55 million rupees was taken up for a vote last week after Chief Opposition Whip Anura Kumara Dissanayake called for a division.

However, while the vote was being taken, several Parliamentarians entered the Chamber and participated in the voting process adding it led to confusion.

MP Lucky Jayawardene, who was presiding at the time, announced that there were 33 votes in favour of the proposal and 31 against, and therefore the estimate had been approved.

However, subsequent to a re-count, the Opposition claimed that the supplementary estimate moved by the government received 31 votes for and against.

Accordingly, the so called Joint Opposition accused the government of failing to follow standard protocol while taking financial bills to vote.

Parliament proceedings were disrupted when the issue was raised by the Opposition last week.

The Speaker of House adjourned the proceedings and called for a party leaders meeting. The party leaders decided to appoint a four member committee to investigate the corresponding events.

The four member committee comprising Leader of Opposition R Sampanthan, Minister of Justice Wijedasa Rajapaksa, Former Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem and Former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa were given the task of investigating the incident.

Accordingly, they will submit the report on the 17th of May.