Lucky Jayawardena, who was at the chair, announced results of the vote, according to which 33 voted in support and 31 voted against.

The opposition objected and in a recount, it tied at 31 votes each.

During the vote, opposition members claimed the government had lost and demanded dissolution of parliament.

An observation of the relevant videos showed the vote was tied.

Commenting to the media, JVP’s Bimal Ratnayake said vote counting was defective, and that parliament discussed the political and legal aspects of the matter.

MEP’s Sisira Jayakoda said Mujibur Rahuman’s vote had been counted twice by mistake.

JVP’s Anua Kumara Dissanayake said the matter would be raised in parliament today.

UNP’s Ashu Marasinghe criticized the behaviour of joint opposition MPs, and accused them of placing parliamentary staff into inconvenience.

Had anything gone wrong, what should have been done was to resolve it through discussion, instead of intimidating the staff, he added.