Final vote on Budget gets 2/3rd approval

• 3-week-long debate on Appropriation Bill ends with Third Reading vote
• PM, Opp. Leader, and Speaker thank all MPs as sitting winds up for the year
• Next sitting will be on 5 January

The Third Reading of the new Government’s first Budget was passed by a two-thirds majority, with 151 members voting for it and 54 against.

Opposition Members Ishaq Rahaman and Ali Sabry Rahim voted in favour of the budget, while 19 MPs were absent during the time of voting

Yesterday’s vote ended the three-week-long debate on the Appropriation Bill 2021, which began after Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is also the Finance Minister, presented the Budget to Parliament on 16 November.

The Prime Minister and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa thanked all MPs and others for their contribution in making the budget debate a success, while Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena also thanked all the MPs for their participation in the debate, as well as the Parliament staff and security personnel.

The notable absentees during a major part of the debate were parliamentary correspondents, who were barred from covering, citing COVID-19 fears.

Winding up the sitting for the year, the Speaker advised MPs on both sides to refrain from personal criticism. “I have noticed that MPs used non-parliamentary language during the budget debate. I therefore request MPs from both sides to refrain from personal criticism and criticise only policies,” the Speaker said.

Parliament will convene again on 5 January.