Third and final reading of 2016 budget passed

The third and final reading of the 2016 budget was passed by Parliament today with 160 members voting for and 51 against it while 13 members were absent.

Several opposition members of Parliament, including the Tamil National Alliance and Parliamentarians Douglas Devananda, Arumugam Thindaman and Lakshman Seniviratne.

Among those absent were opposition Parliamentarians Mahinda Rajapaksa, Wimal Weerawansa, Manusha Nanayakara, Geetha Kumarasinghe and Selvam Adaikalanathan.

The second reading of the 2016 budget was passed in Parliament on December 2nd?with 159 members voting for and 52 against it while 13 members were absent.

The third reading contains several amendments to the original budget proposals presented to Parliament.

Speaking before the vote on the third reading was taken, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake told Parliament that Rs. 2500 will be added to the basic salary of public servants from next year as a first stage.

The Government hopes to add Rs. 10,000 to the?basic salary of public servants in three stages next year. (Colombo Gazette)