Chief Justice issue with Budget tea

During the customary tea break of the annual Budget presentation, the Minister of Finance (in this case President Mahinda Rajapaksa) had light hearted banter mostly with Opposition MPs.

When he was with the TNA MPs, its leader R. Sampanthan raised the question of the impeachment motion against the Chief Justice.

Before you could say "Divineguma Bill", the President turned to TNA MP M. Sumanthiran and said "why you wanted her appointed, no".

Sumanthiran protested at the Presidential remark and denied he had any hand in lobbying for the Chief Justice's appointment.

Then the President was to lament "what to do, when the teacher wants his pupil appointed I listened to him."

Now Sumanthiran is in a dilemma. He wants to serve in the team of lawyers who want to represent Chief Justice Shirani Bandarnayake. On the other hand, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) may nominate him to be its representative in the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC). In case he does not serve in the PSC, alliance sources say the choice would be Rajavarothayam Sampanthan, the leader.

There was also more light hearted banter during tea time at the Budget presentation. President Rajapaksa was greeted by two UNP rebels, Range Bandara and Ashoka Abeysinghe. "Like a barber saloon, the doors are open," said Rajapaksa. He was jokingly suggesting that the two MPs could join the UPFA if they so wished. The response came only from Bandara. "I will come and see you sometime," he said.

On another occasion, a group of MPs met Rajapaksa face to face. UNP Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake remarked, "Sir, you have exempted racing cars from import duty. Most of the racing drivers are on your side," he quipped laughingly. "I had to give you something to criticise during the debate," was the President's reply.