The 2015 Budget was passed in Parliament a short while ago by a majority of 95 votes with 152 MPs voting for 57 against.
Former Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena and fellow Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) dissidents were not present today when the vote on the third reading of the budget took place.
The United National Party (UNP), Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and Democratic National Alliance (DNA) voted against the Budget while around 15 parliamentarians were reportedly absent during the vote.
Parliament on 1 November passed the second reading of the Appropriation Bill for year 2015 by a majority of 100 votes, with 157 MPs voting in favour and 57 against.
Members of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) were absent during that vote.
The expected government expenditure for the year 2015 is Rs 1.812 trillion, around 17 per cent higher compared to the previous year’s expenditure.
The Appropriation Bill for the service of the financial year 2015 was presented in Parliament by the Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne on 26 September.
