UPFA MP Bandula Gunawardena said even the backbenchers of the UNP supported the opposition to defeat the Expenditure Heads of two ministries held by two politicians aspiring to become future presidents. 

Speaking to the media after the defeat of the Expenditure Heads of the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Province Development and the Ministry of Local Government and Provincial Councils, Gunawardena said the defeated Expenditure Heads cannot be presented to Parliament again. 

He added the government should resort to alternative measures to approve funds for the two ministries. 

Only 23 MPs voted in favour of the two Expenditure Heads while 38 MPs voted against. 

Although votes are hardly taken during the committee stage, the UPFA asked for a vote on the Expenditure Heads of the two ministries having realized that the government had only a handful of MPs in the House last evening. 

The defeat, however, does not derail the parliamentary process with regard to the budget. Committee stage debates are expected to take place continuously until the third reading vote on the budget on April 05.