Why did President Mahinda Rajapaksa ask Sri Lanka Freedom Party secretary to take action against the MPs who had not voted for casino act?

As the Sinhala daily The Divaina reported Sri Lanka's ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) general secretary Maithripala Sirisena is reportedly taking action to order some SLFP MPs to show cause for not voting for the Strategic Development Project Act which was recently passed in the parliament.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed the SLFP general secretary to take this action, as the newspapers say. The instruction has been given at the government parliamentary group meeting which is attended by non-SLFP MPs too.

Around 50 MPs of ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) did not vote for the act while ruling coalition Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) Minister Champika Ranawaka and MP Athuraliye Rathana Thero voted against the bill.

Minister Wimal Weerawansa who represents the National Freedom Front abstained voting and openly criticized the government for attempting to open big casinos.

These three MPs were not present in the government parliamentary group meeting held on May 05. They are openly criticizing the government over the casino issue and hinting the need for a change also. The MPs appear to be hiding from the President of whom they know too well.

MP Namal Rajapaksa, the son of the President was engaged in a tour in South Korea with a group of youth parliamentarians as the voting took place in the parliament. Media reported earlier that the President was not to take action against the MPs who did not vote due to his son's absence.