Did Inland Revenue Amendment Bill divide parties?

• The second reading of the Bill was actually approved by a majority of 45 votes with 103 members voting for it and 58 against

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

The Inland Revenue Amendment Bill was approved in Parliament yesterday with questions arising on the positions especially in the opposition.  

The voting pattern of MPs indicated divisions among parties. The second reading of the Bill was actually approved by a majority of 45 votes with 103 members voting for it and 58 against Ruling SLPP voted in favor while SJB, TNA , NPP and the group led by Wimal Weerawansa voted against.   

Rohini Kaviratne, Talatha Athukorala, Vadivel Suresh, Rajitha Senaratne and P. Digambaram were among the absentees from the SJB. SLFP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera voted against the Bill while Maithripala Sirisena was absent. TNA MP S. Rasamanikam voted against while others from the party were absent. MP Dullas Alahaperuma was also absent during the voting. MP Ganjendrakumar Ponnablam was also an absentee  

Uddika Premaratne who belonged to group led by Weerawansa earlier announced that he would function as an independent MP was also absent during voting.   
SLPP MPs Mahinda Rajapaksa, Namal Rajapaksa and Chamal Rajapaksa were among those absent from the ruling party.