Skills Development and Vocational Training Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe told Parliament yesterday that Budget 2017 created history as all minority parties voted for the passing of the second reading of the budget on Friday.
Participating in the Committee Stage of the budget, the Minister said that all minority parties, Tamil and Muslim voted with the government. It was the first time during our Parliament history that such solidarity was witnessed among the minority parties with the Government.
Minister Samarasinghe said that the minority parties have placed their utmost confidence in President Maithripala Sirisena’s Government and that was the key reason for them to vote in favour of the budget.
The minority parties are impressed with the manner the President is taking forward the country.
“The President himself took measures to prune some dictatorial powers of the executive presidency unlike his predecessors who preferred to have more and more powers. The President did not even acquire the President’s House and he gave Temple Trees to the Prime Minister.
“Whenever he went abroad he does not accompany hundreds of delegations of henchmen like former Presidents. These unassuming nature of the President has won the hearts of minorities. It is not only the minorities but also the international community is highly impressed with the President’s conduct. That is why the incumbent Government commands such an overwhelming support from the minority parties and international community,” the Minister said.