UPFA: 152, Opposition:57
Rebel SLFP group, JHU MPs skip session
SLMC supports Govt
Contrary to reports regarding mass crossovers, the Budget 2015 was passed yesterday with a two-thirds majority (152 for and 57 against) while the rebel SLFP group and JHU MPs were absent.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa presented the budget in Parliament in his capacity as the Minister of Finance.
The vote on the third and final reading of the budget 2015 received 152 votes in favour and 57 votes against.
The UNP, TNA and DNA voted against the budget. The SLMC backed the UPFA.
At the end of the debate Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga called for a division on the Budget and Leader of the House Irrigation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva called for the division by name.
Government Members who switched allegiance to a UNP-led Opposition alliance, Maithripala Sirisena, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, M. K. D. S. Gunawardena, Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, Wasantha Senanayake, Duminda Dissanayake, Perumal Rajathurai, JHU’s Patali Champika Ranawaka and Aturaliye Ratana Thera were not present in the House when the vote was taken.
From the opposition side the notable absentees were Tiran Alles, Arjuna Ranatunga, Lakshman Kiriella, Karu Jayasuriya, J. Sri Ranga and Abdul Haleem.
Some of the Opposition MP s joined common presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena in Kandy. They later accompanied him to Anuradhapura, where he paid homage to Sri maha Bodhiya.
President Rajapaksa in his capacity as the Minister of Finance presented his tenth consecutive budget on October 24 in Parliament. It is the country’s 69th budget since Independence. The second reading stage debate commenced from October 25 continued till Nov. 1 and the vote taken at the end of second reading received 157 votes for and 57 votes against.
The committee stage debate commenced on Nov. 03 and continued till yesterday and the expenditure heads of the Ministry of Finance were taken up for debate.
