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Budget 2008 passed with majority of 47

* 114 votes for budget, 67 against

* SLFP, UNP-D, CWC, UPF vote for; UNP, TNA, SLFP (M) vote against

* JVP abstains

* Anura Bandaranaike, four TNA MPs absent

The Government yesterday won the Third Reading vote of Budget 2008 with a majority of 47 votes.

The crucial vote was considered to be one of the most decisive budget votes in recent history especially in view of defence and national security concerns.

The budget was passed with 114 MPs voting for and 67 voting against. Thirty eight MPs abstained from voting.

The Government led by SLFP and other constituent parties along with the Jathika Hela Urumaya, UNP Democratic Group, Ceylon Workers Congress and the Upcountry People’s Front voted in favour of the budget.

JVP MP Nandana Gunatilleke who abstained from voting at the second reading of the budget, JHU MP Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera and Independent MP V. Puthrasigamani also voted in favour of the budget.

The JVP which opposed the budget at the second reading vote of the budget decided to abstain from voting at the last hour.

SLFP MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe who sat with the Opposition during the second reading budget debate also abstained from voting.

Anura Bandaranaike who sat with the Opposition next to Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe having entered the Chamber from the Opposition side an hour before the Third Reading vote, was absent at the time of the vote.

The United National Party, Tamil National Alliance and four SLMC MPs who broke ranks with the Government to sit with the opposition, voted against the budget. SLFP dissident MPs Mangala Samaraweera and Sripathi Suriyaarachchi also voted against.

Four TNA MPs P. Ariyanethran, Jeyanandamoorthy, Thangeshawari Kathirgamar and M.K. Eeelaventhan were absent at the time of the voting.

It turned into a decisive vote with political crosscurrents and crossovers in Parliament with efforts by the United National Party and the SLFP (M) wing to garner support to defeat the budget at the vote on the Third Reading.

UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella asked for a vote/division by name as the Speaker put the appropriation Bill for the third reading vote. At the Second Reading on November 19, 118 voted for and 102 against.

This was the fourth budget of the UPFA Government. President Mahinda Rajapaksa, presented the Budget on November 7.

 

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