Embilipitiya UC budget defeated by two votes

The budget of the Embilipitiya UC has been defeated by two votes as informed by UPFAmember of the Council Vijitha A. Punchihewa, who acted as the Acting chairman of the UC during the vote on the budget.

The UC Chairman Ven. Wewelduwe Gnanaprabha Thera said the budget had been defeated in an illegal manner.

The Thera, who represented the JHU had expressed his support for the incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa and was removed from the JHU.

TheActing chairman Punchihewa who conducted the meeting during yesterday’s budget debate, said the meeting was held legally. Punchihewa

The two UNP members voted against the Budget and the Acting chairman Punchihewa refrained from voting and accordingly the 2015 Budget of the Embilipitiya UC was defeated.

had already decided to extend his support to the Common Candidate Maithripala Sirisena. When the meeting commenced only Punchihewa and UNP council members Lasantha Siripura and Sumith Senaka were present, and they had waited till 12.30 pm for the other members to arrive and as they did not turn up, following the procedure laid down under Clause 24 of the Local Government Ordinance, an ordinary member could be appointed as Acting chairman. Accordingly, Vijitha Punchihewa’s name was proposed as the Acting chairman, by the Opposition leader Lasantha Siripura, which proposal was seconded by Sumith Senaka, both UNP members.

Necessary approval to hold this meeting under these circumstances was obtained over the telephone from the Sabaragamuwa Local Government Commissioner and on the instructions of the investigation officer Dhammika Punchihewa, the meeting was conducted by the council members who attended the meeting.

The two UNP members voted against the Budget and the Acting chairman Punchihewa refrained from voting and accordingly the 2015 Budget of the Embilipitiya UC was defeated.