He told the government MPs that the LTTE would especially try to target MP Basil Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa or him at this hour.

“However, the Tigers will try to take the life of any other member whom they consider important under these circumstances,” he said.

In the meantime, the President informed the government members that the budget, unlike in the past,would be presented to Parliament at 9.30 am. He emphasized the need for all to be present during the committee stage debate on it. The budget has, over the years, been presented in the afternoon.

The government also decided not to take up the proposed supplementary estimate when the House meets today, despite previous plans to do so. Instead of this estimate, the House will debate regulations providing for increases in customs duty on certain items and the free trade agreement between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

The ruling coalition had planned to seek parliamentary approval to spend Rs.61.8 billion to cover various expenditures; Rs.400 million of this was meant for the state-run budget airline ‘Mihin Air’.

President Rajapaksa had said approval for these allocations would be obtained during the budget debate.

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