By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

SLPP MP Channa Jayasumana yesterday said he will not vote in favour of the budget if the government fails to amend the proposal to shift the authority which Mahaweli Authority enjoys over lands towards the divisional Secretariats.  

Speaking during the second reading debate on the budget, MP Jayasumana questioned whether MPs including S.M.Chandrasena, Roshan Ranasinghe can vote in favour of this budget which has come up with a disturbing proposal to shift the authority over lands.   

“ Over 50 percent of land in areas such as Talawa come under the Mahaweli H zone. People who occupy these lands do not have deeds. The shift in the authority therefore is a risk as these people may lose their lands,” the MP said.   

“ The decision to shift the authority of the land from the the Mahaweli Secretariat would cause a serious security and social issue. “ We know President Ranil Wickremesinghe did take certain decisions with regard to security during the past decades. We will not vote for the budget if this proposal is not scrapped forthwith,” he added.