The Tamil National Alliance has decided to abstain from voting during the 2023 Budget vote in Parliament this evening.
Parliament is scheduled to vote on the second reading of the 2023 Budget later this evening.
The second reading of the 2023 Appropriation Bill or the Budget speech was delivered in Parliament by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Minister of Finance on the 14th of November.
This was also the maiden annual budget speech of President Wickremesinghe.
Speaking to NewsRadio,TELO Leader and TNA Parliamentarian Selvam Adaikalanathan said the decision was taken during a meeting held at the Parliamentary complex this morning.
MP Adaikalanathan confirmed that the decision was taken as a goodwill gesture following President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s offer to sit down for talks to address the national issue.
He added therefore they will not vote against the Budget presented by the President.
Meanwhile, yesterday, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party announced that they will vote against the Budget.
Members of Parliament are currently debating the second reading of the 2023 Budget.
Following today’s debate, at around 5pm a vote will be taken on the bill.
Meanwhile, according to the 2023 Budget estimates, the total revenue and grants is expected to be Rs. 3,415 billion.
The total expenditure is estimated to be Rs. 5,819 billion.
Accordingly, the government is aiming to reduce the budget deficit to 7.9 percent next year from estimated 9.8 percent this year.
Meanwhile, the committee stage Debate will be held for 13 days in Parliament from tomorrow (23).
The final vote on the 2023 Budget to be presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament is scheduled to take place at 5pm on Thursday, the 8th of December.