President's Expenditure Head Passed In Parliament Without Division: Prime Minister Dismisses Chaminda Wijesiri's Request For Division

The President's Expenditure Head was passed in Parliament a short while ago, despite constant threats by UNP MPs to vote it down. 

When the Expenditure Head was taken for debate, UNP MP Chaminda Wijesiri asked for a division, but Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe disagreed leading the House to pass the President's expenses for 2019 without a vote. 

President Maithripala Sirisena was absent in Parliament when his Expenditure Head was debated in Parliament earlier today. 

The President's Media Division said Sirisena left for Nairobi today to attend a UN environmental summit. 

During the debate in Parliament, however, the President's conduct came under severe criticism from lawmakers of the UNP, the TNA and the JVP.