The 2008 Budget was passed in parliament today

Parliament today (19) passed the second reading of the 2008 Budget proposals with a majority of 16 votes.

118 voted in favour of the budget and 102 voted against and 2 abstained from voting today when the crucial budget was passed in parliament.

The UPFA, UNP democratic team, SLMC, CWC, JHU, EPDP independent MP Puthrasigamani, Upcountry Peoples Front (UPF) and Venerable Uduwe Dhammaloka MP extended their support to the Government on the Budget.

UNP, JVP, TNA, SLFP (M) voted against the budget. Although JVP voted against in parliament, JVP MP, Nanda Gunathilake and Wijedasa Rajapaksha MP, who crossed over to the opposition recently, abstained from voting.

Two TNA MPS, Eelaventhan and Kanagasabai were not in parliament today. Eelaventhan, during his budget speech in 2006 boasted that his next budget speech would be in Tamil Eelam in 2007.