Opposition trying hard on defeating 2019 Budget

COLOMBO (News 1st): The budget for the year 2019 is to be presented in Parliament tomorrow (March 5). Meanwhile, the opposition have set their eyes on defeating it. Speaking to the media, UPFA MP Rohitha Abeygunawardana stated that if MPs Vijayamuni Soysa, Fowzie, Piyasena Gamage, Lakshman Seneviratne and Manusha Nanayakkara return to the UPFA and vote against the present government, the opposition "will have 102 votes". He added that the present government can then be defeated as the ruling party will only have 101 votes remaining. However, Minister of Agriculture P. Harrison has downplayed any attempt to defeat the budget, saying that "a similar game was played previously. However, the game was a failure. Therefore there is no need to panic." The Minister stated that the budget will be approved and passed in parliament. He also responded to the claims of not having a majority in parliament, by recalling the recent "59-day political turmoil". "During the 59-day political turmoil, we all witnessed that we had more than 103 MPs. The budget will be approved and passed in a due manner. There is no need to panic." he said.