The second reading of the Budget 2017 was passed with a majority of 107 votes in Parliament, a short while ago.
A total of 162 Members of parliament voted in favor of the budget while 55 voted against it. Seven MPs were absent during the vote today (18).
The United National Party (UNP), United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MPs in the government and the Tamil national Alliance (TNA) voted for the budget.
The Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) and Dougles Devananda of the EPDP also voted in favour of the budget.UPFA members in Joint Opposition and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) voted against during the second reading vote.
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was among the 7 MPs absent during the vote.
Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake presented the third budget of the National Unity Government of President Maithripala Sirisena and the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe,the 70th Budget of independent Sri Lanka, on November 10 in the Parliament.
The debate on the second reading and the committee stage will continue till 10 December including Saturday
