Second reading of Budget 2024 passed in Parliament; MR gives thumbs up

Wednesday, 22 November 2023 00:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill for the fiscal year 2024 was passed in the Parliament yesterday by a majority of 45 votes including the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa giving it a thumbs up.

Announcing the results of the division at the end of the debate on the second reading this evening, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said 122 parliamentarians in total have voted in favour of the budget while 77 have voted against it.

On 13 November President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance presented 2024 Budget, the country’s 78th Budget Speech, to parliament as part of the broader economic plan.

Subsequently, the debate on the second reading of the Appropriation Bill commenced the following day and continued for seven days.

The debate on the committee stage or the third reading of the Appropriation Bill will kick off today and will be held for 19 days until 13 December excluding Sundays.

The vote on the Third Reading of the budget for the financial year 2024 is scheduled to be held at 6.00 p.m. on 13 December 2023.