JVP leader says party is united despite media reports of a division

The party also categorically rejected accusations that their action to vote against the 2008 budget proposals was anti-patriotic.

37 JVP parliamentarians casted their votes against the budget while dissident MP, Nandana Gunathilake, abstained from voting.

Divisions in the party

JVP leader Somawansa Amerasinghe said the parliamentarians once again proved that there are no division in the party as reported in the media.

There are so many more loose tooth in the government so there is no point for them to be over-enthused Tilvin Silva

"Some of you reported there were divisions in the JVP. We did not have any division or vagueness on how to vote as you witnessed yesterday," he told journalists in Colombo.

Amerasinghe said it was unfair to compare his party with the United National Party (UNP) which is accused by the JVP and the government of having closer links with the Tamil Tigers.

December 14 voting

JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva meanwhile warned the government not to overreact despite wining the vote with 16-seat majority.

	The JVP refused to reveal the strategy for December 14 vote

The majority will once again be tested on 14 December when the parliament votes for the third reading of the budget proposals, he said.

"There are so many more loose tooth in the government so there is no point for them to be over-enthused".

The UNP and SLFP (mahajana wing) have pledged to defeat the budget proposals on 14 December.

However the JVP refused to reveal their strategy for the 14 December vote.

JHU accusations

The JVP which supported Mahinda Rajapaksa presidency in November 2005 presidential elections, strongly criticised the 2008 budget but did not reveal their position until Monday.

(Government) should organise special pooja for the JVP for making our decision public at the last moment Wimal Weerawansa

That resulted in the government winning the vote as many would be defectors could not make their mind, JVP parliamentary group leader Wimal Weerawansa argued.

He hit out at Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) minister Champika Ranawaka who has reportedly said that minority parties such as CWC and SLMC were more patriotic than the JVP.

"We would have seen where those so called 118 patriots would be had we announced our decision before 19 November," Wimal Weerawansa said.

The government "should organise special pooja for the JVP for making our decision public at the last moment," he added.