Budget 2012: Final vote today

December 20, 2011, 10:22 pm , The Island.

The final vote of the budget proposals 2012 will be taken at 5.00 p.m. today (21). President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, presented the budget 2012 in Parliament on November 21 and the second reading debate was held for seven days from November 22 to 30. The second reading vote was taken on November 30 and it was passed with majority of 91 votes. The budget 2012 received 151 votes in favour and 60 against while 13 members were not present.

The committee stage or the third reading of the budget commenced on December 1 and continued for 17 days including today (21). The votes of around 90 ministries were debated at this stage. For the today’s winding up session President Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected to participate in making the concluding speech as the minister of finance. (SI)