SJB and Dullas faction of SLPP to refrain from voting for Interim Budget

The main Opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and a group of Sri Lanka Podhujana Peramuna (SLPP) have decided to refrain from voting for the second reading of the budget due this evening. 

General Secretary of SJB Ranjith Madduma Bandara announced the party decision a while ago while stressing the budget failed to present key economic reforms that are needed to boost tax revenue as the government is struggling to meet its expenses.

Meanwhile, a group of thirteen SLPP MPs who declared themselves as an independent group in Parliament this week have also decided to refrain from voting for the second reading of the interim budget, party Chairman Prof G.L.Peiris said.

The SLPP group led by Dullas Alagapperuma declared that it will form a new group named Nidhas Janatha Sabhawa ( Independent Peoples' Forum). 

Last Tuesday (30),  President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as Minister of Finance, Economic Stability and National Policies presented the inauguration speech of the second reading of the Appropriation (Amendment) Bill and it was debated in the House for the last two days. 

The second reading of the Appropriation (Amendment) Bill is currently underway and the Bill is scheduled to be passed after the committee stage and the third reading later in the evening.