Budget gets two thirds majority

The final vote of ‘Budget 2017’ was passed in Parliament on Saturday with a two thirds majority.

One hundred sixty five members voted in favour, whereas 55 members voted against. Chief Opposition Whip and JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanyake called for a division by name. All TNA MPs led by Opposition Leader R Sampanthan voted for the Budget with the government. Opposition members Arumugam Thondaman (CWC) and Douglas Devananda (EPDP) also voted with the government. Accordingly, the Budget was passed with a majority of 110 votes.

The Joint Opposition MPs and JVP MPs voted against. Four MPs were absent.

They were Mahinda Rajapaksa, Siripala Gamlath, Premalal Jayasekera and Thenuka Widanagama. The government members jeered at the Joint Opposition when former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was not present when his name was read.

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake moved several Amendments to the Budget before the vote. Accordingly, the appropriation for expenditure of the government for 2017 was increased from Rs. 1,819 billion to Rs. 2,112 billion. The maximum borrowing limit of the government for 2017 was increased from Rs. 1,489 billion to Rs. 1,579 billion.

At the end of the Committee Stage debate, MEP Leader Dinesh Gunawardena called for a division on the Expenditure Head of the Finance Ministry. After a division was taken by head count of each row the Expenditure Head was passed with a majority of 109 votes.

There was loud thumping on the desks when TNA MPs led by Sampanthan rose to vote with the government.

The ‘Budget 2017’ themed ‘Accelerating Growth with Social Inclusion’ was presented to Parliament by Finance Minister Karunanayake on November 10.

The Second Reading was passed with a two thirds majority on November 18.