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Budget balloons to win more MPs
By Munza Mushtaq
The government is engaged in a marathon session of negotiations
with five opposition parliamentarians in an attempt to secure victory
at Friday’s crucial Budget vote.
Minister of Construction and Engineering Services Rajitha Senaratne
told The Bottom Line that negotiations were based on bringing these
MPs to the government fold in the event government members decide
to vote against the budget by joining the opposition on Friday.
He declined to name the five UNP parliamentarians, but claimed that
negotiations in process had so far been very successful.
“Even if they do not join the government by Friday they would
after the budget,” Senaratne claimed. According to government
sources, some ministers are sceptical about the several MPs who
continue to sit in government benches. As a result several ministers
have been tasked in brining more MPs to the government, if the need
arises to make sure that the government wins the third reading of
the Budget on Friday.
“Opposition MPs are being lured by the government with many
bonanzas, including cash and ministerial portfolios,” sources
claimed.
Meanwhile the government has been seen making subtle attempts to
lure several Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) parliamentarians, highly
placed sources said. It has been observed that government ministers
have held long discussions with JVP members in Parliament, specially
the junior members.
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