by Shyam Nuwan Ganewatte Courtesy The Island

The government was working on a vote on account to be presented at the next Cabinet meeting, Minister of International Trade and Investment Promotion, Bandula Gunawardena yesterday told the media at the Prime Minister’s Office.

If the Supreme Court decided that the dissolution of Parliament was legal, the President would be able to spend money from the Consolidated Fund. “Even if a vote on account is not presented in November, the President can still use funds from the Consolidated Fund,” he said.

Asked how the government would be able to secure the passage of its vote on account as it lacked a majority in Parliament, the Minister said that it was the UNP which kept on saying so.

“MP Ajith Perera said his party would show that 113 MPs supported the UNP when parliament was convened on November 19, but nothing of the sort happened.”

Gunawardena added that the government would take action against UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe for forcibly occupying Temple Trees, the official residence of the Prime Minister.