14.11.2007

Political sources say that Colombo district MP Arjuna Ranathunga will crossover to the opposition prior to the vote on the second reading of the budget.
He made a statement to the BBC today that he would not vote in support of the budget. Lanka-e-News attempts to contact him via phone failed.

Ranathunga held the post of Deputy Minister of Tourism in Rajapakse regime and later resigned.

Meanwhile, the MPs were speculating at the lobby that several more MPs including four MPs who joined the government recently from the UNP to assume posts of Deputy Ministers, would join the government.

A UNP MP is also to crossover to the government in coming few days.

Courtesy - LeN