2023 Budget, Second reading passed in parliament

The second reading of the Appropriation Bill for the fiscal year 2023 was passed in the parliament yesterday (Nov. 22), by a majority of 37 votes.

Announcing the results of the division at the end of the debate on the second reading this evening, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said 121 parliamentarians in total have voted in favor of the budget while 84 voted against it. Meanwhile, MP C.V. Wigneswaran abstained from voting. The debate on the committee stage or the third reading of the Appropriation Bill will kick off today (Nov 23) and the vote is scheduled to be held on December 08.