Budget passed with more than 2/3 after second reading

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana 

The second reading of the 2026 Budget was approved in Parliament with a majority of 118 votes, as 160 MPs voted in favour and 42 voted against. 

A total of 22 MPs were absent at the time of voting. 

Opposition MPs Mano Ganesan, V. Radhakrishnan, P. Thigambaram and Jeevan Thondaman voted in favour, citing the wage increase granted to estate workers. ITAK MPs abstained from voting. 

Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader MP Mano Ganesan said his party decided to vote in favour of the budget as the government increased the wages of estate sector community.