The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), a constituent party of the ruling UPFA government, says that it will vote against the two orders under the Strategic Development Project Act when the vote is taken in Parliament today.

General Secretary of the JHU and Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka stated this in a press conference held in Colombo today.

MPs Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero and Ranawaka of the JHU will cast their vote against the draft bill.

Rathana Thero stressed that their decision to vote against the gazette is not an attempt to topple the government but a responsibility towards Buddhism carried out with the intention of directing a “friend” on the right path.

Rathana Thero had also voted against the 1st gazette notification, providing for a mixed development project in D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha, in Parliament yesterday while Minister Champika Ranawaka was absent.

However, the controversial gazette was passed in Parliament with a majority of 71 votes with 113 members voting in favour and 42 voting against.

Meanwhile the two MPs of the National Freedom Front (NFF), another coalition party of the UPFA, Weerakumara Dissanayake and Wimal Weerawansa will refrain from casting their vote today, sources within the party told Ada Derana.

The decision was taken at the party’s central committee meeting held yesterday, the source said.

The NFF members were also absent during the vote yesterday along with Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader minister Rauf Hakeem and over 60 other MPs.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, speaking to media heads yesterday, said that Draft Strategic Development Projects bill does not allow any casinos as claimed by opposition parties and said it is only a hotel project.