UPFA MP and Mahajana Eksath Peramuna leader Dinesh Gunawardena stated that the government should resign since the proposal to raise Government’s Treasury bill debt ceiling by 400 million was defeated in the parliament on Tuesday.

“The government received 31 votes while the opposition could get 52 votes. Many ministers were absent at the time of the vote. This is not the way a responsible government should act,” Gunawardena told media.

He also added that the government did not reveal the true facts on the matter which led to the defeat of the bill. Since the bill was defeated, the government must resign, Gunawardena stressed.

Gunawardena also added that the opposition let the government present the bill after the government had said it was unable find money for government expenses. However, the government blatantly accused the opposition thereafter, he added. Speaking further, Gunawardena said that the opposition was able to effectively counter the government’s claims.

Meanwhile, speaking to the media last evening Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake slammed the ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa backed faction’ for the defeat of the government. He said that the government has the support of the majority of the parliament and therefore is not affected by one setback.