Live Blog: Parliament today

12.33: Motion against the expenses at the Prime Minister's Office passed with 123 votes in favor and no votes against. 12.30: The votes so far...   Votes on the motion against the expenses at the Prime Minister's Office12.15: Voting begins on the motion against the expenses of the Prime Minister's Office. 11.51: "The appointment of Ranil Wickremesinghe as PM following the 2015  election was also against the 'political culture' - MP Bimal Ratnayake 11.45: "This is not about the Ranil Wickremesinghe government. That was one which was going to get kicked out anyway following elections" - MP Bimal Ratnayake 11.35: MP Bimal Ratnayake speaks in Parliament 11.33: "On the pretext of them boycotting this house, they are turning their back on the people" - MP Rauff Hakeem 11.30: "We would be willing to replenish all damages and cost of the occupation if the court says otherwise (that the removal of PM Ranil Wickremesinghe is constitutional) - MP Rauff Hakeem 11.26: "We will give it to the JVP also if you want it" - MP Lakshman Kiriella 11.25: "Is Temple Trees a place that can be rented out to anyone like a hotel?" - MP Anura Kumara 11.25: MP Lakshman Kiriella says that the UNP is paying for the expenses at Temple Trees. 11.21: "There are expenses in two places. Who is paying the utility bills at Temple Trees? - The people have to bare the weight of two Prime Ministers." - MP Anura Kumara 11.20: "An MP is using benefits which are entitled to a Prime Minister"- MP Anura Kumara 11.16: "There are only three ways of toppling a Government:

• President's policy statement
• Budget
• No Confidence Motion

But the President has not published his policy statement yet." - MP Anura Kumara 11.14: "This fight is to get the President to abide by the constitution." - MP Anura Kumara 11.12: "It does not matter if we do not agree with each other's policies or ideas. We still abide by the constitution." MP Anura Kumara 11.10: "Though we like or not, there is a law that we should abide by. That law is the constitution." - MP Anura Kumara 11.08: Anura Kumara speaks in Parliament regarding the motions presented to the Speaker 10.58: "The chaos that ensued in Parliament during previous sessions have made the people sick and disappointed of politics and public servants" - Min. Wijedasa Rajapakshe 10.51: "Even though the UNP had only 42 seats in Parliament, they governed the country with the backing of the people" - Min. Wijedasa Rajapakshe 10.48: Min. Wijedasa Rajapakshe recalls the past, from ending the war to the January 2018 "revolution". 10.46: While the majority of the ruling party is boycotting the Parliamentary session, Min. Wijedasa Rajapakshe is present in Parliament. 10.45: Navin Dissanayake seconded the motion presented by MP Ravi Karunanayake 10.40: "The present government has spent Rs. 84 Million in 21 days for Helicopter travel"- Ravi K. 10.35: Ravi Karunanayake presents the motion against the expenses of Secretary to Prime Minister 10.30: Parliament convenes Colombo (News1st): Parliament is set to convene once again at 10.30 AM today (November 29). The Public Gallery and the Special Invitees Gallery will be closed when the Parliament convenes today. Speaking to News1st, Deputy General Secretary of Parliament Neil Iddawela noted the entire parliamentary complex will be out-of-bounds for the general public except to the media.