Sri Lanka's ruling party suffered a defection to the opposition ahead of a make-or-break vote on the national budget slated for next week, officials said.The defection does not pose an immediate danger to the government of President Mahinda Rajapakse. The ruling party still has seven seats more than the combined opposition in the 225-member assembly.
However, a defeat of the national budget for 2008 when it is put to the vote on Monday could lead to a snap election.Parliament's main whistle-blower, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, crossed the floor of the House and joined the opposition demanding tougher action against corruption by politicians and state officials.
Rajapakshe, who heads the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises, or COPE, wanted the state to move in and recover a billion dollars said to have been misappropriated by politicians and officials."I want the government to investigate corruption, recover what belongs to the state," he said after joining opposition ranks ahead of Monday's vote on the national budget.
President Rajapakse was elected for a six-year term in November 2005, but the legislature was elected a year earlier. The parliament can continue until 2010 if it is not defeated during a finance bill or dissolved by the president.
However, a defeat of the national budget for 2008 when it is put to the vote on Monday could lead to a snap election.Parliament's main whistle-blower, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, crossed the floor of the House and joined the opposition demanding tougher action against corruption by politicians and state officials.
Rajapakshe, who heads the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises, or COPE, wanted the state to move in and recover a billion dollars said to have been misappropriated by politicians and officials."I want the government to investigate corruption, recover what belongs to the state," he said after joining opposition ranks ahead of Monday's vote on the national budget.
President Rajapakse was elected for a six-year term in November 2005, but the legislature was elected a year earlier. The parliament can continue until 2010 if it is not defeated during a finance bill or dissolved by the president.
