MR attempting to defeat the budget! Wants an election! 

Opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa appears to be rounding up other parties of the opposition in a bid to defeat the budget brought by the United National Party (UNP) government. According to sources his aim is to defeat the budget and request that a general election should be held. 

He is also said to have informed the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) that it needs to support this bid if the issues regarding the nominee for the 2020 presidential election is to be resolved. 

Reports from the political arena say Rajapaksa has informed President Maithripala Sirisena regarding this as well. However, he is yet to receive a response from Sirisena. Sources say a group from the SLFP are to vote in favour of the budget putting Sirisena in a difficult position leading to his failure to respond to Rajapaksa’s demands.