The Sri Lankan Parliament today approved the extension of the some of the provisions of the state of emergency with 132 votes in favour and 14 voting against it. The members of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) voted against the motion while the main opposition United National Part (UNP) did not vote in protest as newly elected member of Parliament Sarath Fonseka was not allowed to attend the Parliament session due to the on going Court Martial proceedings. The government announced in parliament the relaxation of provisions of several emergency regulations. They include withdrawal of the provision with regard to the imposition of curfews and those requiring householders to give information about inmates as well as the powers given to security forces personnel to enter private properties for search operations. The government has also relaxed the provisions that dealt with propaganda activities, printing of documents and distributing them in support of terrorism. It has done away with the cluster of emergency regulations that restricts processions and meetings that were considered detrimental to the national security. Any residual problems in this regard could be dealt with under the police ordinance. The Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris said that such measures had been introduced to curb terrorism and they were not necessary now. However, the security forces would continue to enjoy police powers to deal with ongoing investigations into terrorist activities.Meanwhile, four more Ministers and six Deputy Ministers were sworn in before President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the President’s House this morning increasing the size of the Cabinet to 42 members. These Ministers are from the Kandy province. The earlier announcement of the cabinet had no representation from the Kandy district pending an enquiry into the alleged malpractices during the general election last month.