Second Reading of Budget 2024 passed

The Second Reading of Budget 2024 was passed in Parliament a short while ago by a majority of 45 votes.

A total of 122 MPs voted in favour of Budget 2024 while 77 MPs voted against it. 

The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) voted in favour of the Budget. The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), National People's Power (NPP), Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and Tamil National Alliance (TNA) were among the opposition parties that voted against.

Meanwhile, the Uththara Lanka Sabhagaya led by Wimal Weerawansa and Freedom People's Congress led by Dullas Alahapperuma, which are made up of former government MPs now sitting independently with the opposition, voted against the Budget.

Several MPs who support the government while sitting in the opposition voted in favour of the Budget. They included Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, John Seneviratne, Ali Sabri Raheem, Vadivel Suresh, A.H.M. Fowzie and Duminda Dissanayake.

The Second Reading of Budget 2024, known as the "Budget Speech" was delivered to Parliament by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as Minister of Finance on November 13. The debate on the Second Reading of Budget 2024 commenced thereafter and was held for seven days excluding Sundays from November 14 until today (21). 

The Committee Stage Debate on Budget 2024 will commence from tomorrow (22) and will be held for 19 days excluding Sundays until December 13. 

The vote on the Third Reading of Budget 2024 is scheduled for 6.00pm on December 13. 

Following are images showing how some of the MPs voted for the Second Reading this evening: