Supplementary estimate withdrawn

Claiming the supplementary estimate -- seeking funds for various items such as the purchase of a vehicle for Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa and the renovation of Minister Kiriella's residence -- was today withdrawn though it was earlier presented in Parliament.

House Leader and Minister Lakshman Kiriella said he had been living at his private residence since the 1980s and that the entry on the allocation of funds for his official residence was completely false.

He said this in response to a question asked by JVP MP Bimal Ratnayake that it was wrong to allocate Rs.100 million to purchase a vehicle for the opposition leader, the deputy minister of lands and the renovation of the minister's official residence while funds were still to be allocated to victims of the Easter Sunday attack.

"This is completely false. It is wrong entry. I have been living in my private residence for several years," the minister said and added that supplementary estimate would be withdrawn for suitable correction.

Opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said a vehicle was allocated to him as the vehicles in the opposition leader's office had been taken by former opposition leader R. Sampanthan.

"The opposition leader's vehicle and official residence were taken by R. Sampanthan. Is it wrong to allocate a vehicle for the opposition leader," he asked.

The supplementary estimate has sought to provide an additional allocation of Rs.42 million to purchase a vehicle for Mr. Rajapaksa while approval was sought to provide an additional allocation to settle outstanding bills pertaining to the renovation of the official resistance of Public Enterprises Minister Lakshman Kiriella.

It also sought an allocation of funds to purchase a vehicle for the deputy minister of Lands. (Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)