Tag: lbo

The vote to appoint a Speaker to the new Parliament just went into a third round, with the second round scrapped due to pandemonium in parliament. The second vote was initially held up when Alliance MPs staged a sit in, in the centres of the Parliament Chamber in protest to UNP members revealing their vote.rn […]

The UNF candidate for Speaker D J M Lokubandara scraped through to the top seat in parliament after a late evening third round vote. The deadlock was broken by two JHU members who exercised their vote in the eleventh hour to neutralize a controversial move by two of their members to vote for the government […]

The vote to elect the speaker to the new Parliament closed minutes ago, with initial reports indicating the race between the two key candidates was neck and neck. Sources in parliament say the seven Saffron robed ministers abstained from the vote and only the two lquote missing monks voted with the UPFA.rn rnHectic political manoeuvring […]

Voting for the speaker of Sri Lankas new parliament ended in a tie between candidates put up by the minority government and the opposition, an official said, adding that a fresh ballot would be held. rnParliament secretary general Priyani Wijesekara said after the vote that government candidate, Communist Party general secretary D.E.W. Gunasekara and opponent, […]

The second vote has reportedly come to a standstill as Alliance MPs lounge in the centres of the Chamber in protest to UNP members revealing their vote to party frontliners.Sources say, the UNP MPs action was to reassure Party leaders of their support to their candidate for Speaker.rn rnSources say at one point one Alliance […]

The situation in Parliament has taken another dramatic turn as some MPs drift away from the Chamber, a little after the second vote recommenced. Sources in Parliament say no decision or the next curse of action has been announced.rn rnIt is understood that some MPs still remain within the Chambers. rn rnThe second round vote […]

The new Govt. will try to squeeze out an extra Rs.10 bn from existing revenue collection channels to meet its increased welfare commitments.Treasury officials say this could be achieved if revenue collection was made more efficient, while staying within the current tax structure.rn rnPolitical watchers say the new Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama and his secretary […]

Sri Lankas president was desperately locked in moves to secure allies as her minority government risked losing the crucial Speakers post when it faces its first test in parliament, officials said.President Chandrika Kumaratunga was also battling to retain her junior coalition partner, the Marxist JVP, and ensure it accepts four portfolios allocated to it before […]

Sri Lankas president was in hectic talks to resolve a dispute with her main ally a day ahead of her minority governments first test in parliament, officials said.President Chandrika Kumaratunga had expected her junior coalition partner, the Marxist JVP, or Peoples Liberation Front, to accept four portfolios in the cabinet by Monday, but they were […]

Taking stock of current ground realities will indicate if the present low interest rate scenario is sustainable says new Treasury Secretary. P. B Jayasundera, who took office on Monday, says the governments policy on interest rates will be reviewed shortly after assessing current requirements to spur economic growth.rn rnOnly last week, Central Bank left its […]

The chief of Sri Lankas Tamil Tigers has asked his 22 proxy legislators in the countrys new parliament to pressure the minority government to open talks based on the rebels blueprint for self-rule.Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran met the MPs of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), a proxy of his guerrillas, in the northern rebel-held region […]

Former Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundera returned to the post today, ending speculation that Presidential Advisor Mano Tittawella was up for the post.Though familiar territory to Jayasundera, his initial tasks could include increasing the governments borrowing programme to foot the cost of the Alliances election promises.rn rnIn addition, an increased borrowing programme could also put pressure […]