18 November 2022 06:46 am
Former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa who resigned from his parliamentary seat during the recent political crisis will return to Sri Lanka on Saturday after leaving for the United States in September and will now initiate discussions to gain a 2/3rd majority for the budget, the Daily Mirror learns.
Political sources said that Rajapaksa left the USA last night and will arrive in Sri Lanka on Saturday and will also begin to restructure the SLPP as he did prior to the Presidential Election in November.
However, his immediate task will include initiating discussions with parliamentarians seeking their vote for the budget which will be taken up in Parliament in December for the final vote.
The aim of the government is to secure a 2/3rd majority for the budget so that the government can continue to function without any hiccups till a decision is taken to go in for fresh elections after next year.
Basil will also restructure the SLPP and begin ground-level campaigning in order to regain the party's popularity at the grass root level. Several changes are expected in the party upon Basil's return. (JAMILA HUSAIN)