SLMC votes with Govt. :

'Mahinda Chintana' budget passed by overwhelming majority

by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi and Ranil Wijayapala

The maiden budget of the UPFA Government under President Mahinda Rajapakse was passed in the Parliament yesterday with a 104 vote majority at the second reading. President Rajapakse as Finance Minister presented the budget on December 8.

Only the Tamil National Alliance opposed the budget based on the Mahinda Chintana aimed at directing the country on a new economic path. Fifteen TNA Mps who were present at the time of voting opposed the budget. The main Opposition United National Party were absent at the time voting took place.

The JVP, the main ally of the UPFA now occupying Opposition benches, Jathika Hela Urumaya, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and two Members from the Ceylon Workers Congress voted with the Government in favour of the budget.

Deputy Minister of Healthcare and rebel CWC member Vadivel Suresh and Faizer Musthapa voted with the Government. However, the other members of the CWC were not present at the time of voting. The Upcountry People's Front were also absent during the voting.

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader Rauff Hakeem was also not present in the House at the time of voting. The second reading debate of the budget continued in Parliament for five days marked by poor participation by the main opposition.

The committee stage debate of the budget will commence today at 9.30 am and the vote on the third reading will take place Thursday at 6 pm.