Pilleyan, ex-Army officer vote for ONUR Bill, UNPer absent

Among those who voted for the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation Bill at the Second Reading were ex-LTTE cadre Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan (TMVP/Batticaloa) aka Pilleyan and Maj. Sudarshana Denipitiya (SLMM/Badulla).

They were among 45 government parliamentary group members who backed the controversial law. In addition to them two dissident SLPP lawmakers, Weerasumana Weerasinghe (Communist Party) and Sarath Kumarasiri (SLPP) voted whereas one SJB MP Vadiwel Suresh (Badulla) broke ranks with his party.

Although many members of the cabinet hadn’t been present, Premier Dinesh Gunawardena, Leader of the House Susil Premjayantha, Chief Government Whip Prasanna Ranatunga and Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe cast their votes in favour of the Bill.

The only UNP MP in Parliament Wajira Abeywardene hadn’t been present at the time of the voting. The UNPer was among altogether 169 who abstained (SF)