The 2010 Budget was passed after its second reading yesterday with 138 MPs voting for and 75 against while 11 MPs were not present at the time of voting.
Heated debates between government and opposition MPs took a serious turn with Deputy Minister Sarath Kumara Gunaratne reportedly hurling a bottle of water towards opposition UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, during the voting.
Gampaha District UNP MP John Amaratunga, who was standing next to him, prevented the bottle from hitting the UNP leader by blocking it with his hand. It fell on the desk with the water spilling on the files.
Chief Government Whip Dinesh Goonewardena walked up to Mr. Gunaratne and was seen reprimanding the deputy minister. The UNP MPs' demand that he be removed from the House drew objections from Government MPs who said UNP MPs should also be removed for their unruly behaviour.
When the vote was taken, dissident UNP MP Abdul Cader voted for the Budget. |
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