Assistant Government Whip Prof Ashu Marasighe has resigned from his post with immediate effect following the defeat of the two expenditure heads in Parliament yesterday. 

However, Chief Government Whip Gayantha Karunathilake and other Deputy Chief Government Whips and Assistant Government Whops continue to occupy their positions. 

Marasinghe, in a letter to the Prime Minister, said he could not escape from the responsibility over the debacle in Parliament yesterday. 

Out of 119 MPs who voted in favour of the budget at the second reading vote, only 23 MPs were present in the House to vote for 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 the government had only a handful of MPs in the House this 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.