The final decision of the Sri Lanka Podujana Party the main ingredient of the government regarding voting for 2023 budget will be taken following the arrivals of Basil Rajapaksa, who is due to be back to the island fro USA on Monday (21), An influential MP of SLPP told to Lankasara.
So far, a strong group of Pohottu MPs including Johnston Fernando, Rohitha Abeygunawardena and Namal Rajapaksa have informed the President that a cabinet amendment is necessary with the MPs nominated by them before the budget, otherwise there may be a problem with the budget.
But President Ranil Wickremesinghe refrained from making changes within the existing cabinet before the budget due to that influence.
In this situation, the above group of MPs is of the opinion that in order to vote for the budget, the president should give a guarantee that the cabinet reshuffle will take place with cabinet minister posts to the group of MPs nominated by him immediately after the budget is finished.
Insider sources said that Basil Rajapaksa will discuss with his SLPP team on Monday to get the President’s assurance on the cabinet reshuffle, which should take place immediately after the completion of the budget, and to take the final decision regarding SLPP’s support for the budget.
It is also said that a discussion between the President and Basil Rajapaksa may take place after that.
