UPFA budget passed by 105-vote majority

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 December 2004, 18:57 GMT]
Sri Lanka parliament Friday evening adopted the maiden budget for 2005 of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government with a majority of 105 votes at the third reading following the conclusion of committee stage debate, parliamentary sources said.

118 Parliamentarians of the ruling UPFA and other constituent parties, Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) dissident group voted for the budget. 13 Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians voted against the budget. Parliamentarians of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) and the SLMC led by Mr.Rauff Hakim abstained, parliamentary sources said.

The UPFA budget was presented in the parliament on November 18th. The budget was debated for about eighteen days including the committee stage, sources said.

The TNA asked for division when the third reading of the Budget was put to vote Friday evening, sources said.

Thereafter Speaker Mr.W.M.J.Lokkubandara adjourned the parliament for January 05 next year wishing a happy and prosperous new year for parliamentarians, sources said.