Committee stage debate of budget 2021 today

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

The committee stage debate of the budget 2021 will begin today with Parliament is expected to take up President’s and Prime Minister’s expenditure heads.   

The second reading of the budget was approved by Parliament by a two-thirds majority with 151 MPs voting for and 52 against. Some 21 MPs were absent during the voting time.   

All MPs of Tamil National Alliance were absent.   

MP Rishad Bathiudeen didn’t turn up due to ill health. MP C. V. Wigneswaran was also absent. Four MPs of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress were absent in the Parliament though its Leader Rauff Hakeem voted against 
the budget.