December 16, 2007	Sunday	Zilhaj 5, 1428

COLOMBO, Dec 15: The government on Saturday renewed its pledge to rid the country of the LTTE, a day after it won a crucial vote for its 2008 budget, delivering a blow to the main opposition, the United National Party (UNP) which has been for weeks campaigning to topple the alliance regime of President Mahinda Rajapakse.

“It is a victory for the country, for our aim to free Sri Lanka of terrorism,” government defence spokesman Keheliye Rambukwella said as fresh fighting on Saturday killed over 30 rebels, according to military officials.

The budget which raised defence expenditure by 20 per cent to a record $1.5 billion was passed in parliament on Friday with a majority of 47 votes, with 114 voting for and 67 opposing it.

The Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) which voted against the budget at the second reading last month abstained from voting amidst fears that the resigning of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) from the government last Wednesday would result in more minority parties following suit giving way to a defeat of the budget and the government.

The United National Party along with the Tamil National Alliance and four members of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress voted against the budget

Notably, government minister Anura Bandaranaike who is the brother of former President Chandrika Kumaratunge crossed over to the opposition benches during the budget debate and left Parliament without voting.