Sri Lanka, March 13 -- The Second Reading of the Budget 2019 was passed with a majority of 43 votes in Parliament yesterday.

At the end of the seven day debate, 119 MPs voted in favour while 76 MPs voted against. The division was called by UPFA MP Dinesh Gunawardena.

The UPFA and the JVP voted against. The TNA members voted in favour along with the Government members. Twenty nine MPs were absent.

The notable absentees include UPFA MPs Mahinda Amaraweera, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Duminda Dissanayake, Angajan Ramanathan, S.B.Dissanayake and TNA MPs E.Saravanapavan, Sivasakthi Anandan, G. Srineshan and S.Adeikkalanathan. CWC Leader Arumugam Thondaman voted in favour. MPs Dr. Wijayadasa Rajapaksh...