Budget 2024: Did AKD vote?

Confusion has arisen over whether NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake voted against Budget 2024 on Dec. 13, or was absent when the final vote was taken. His name has been included in a list, prepared by Chief Government Whip Prasanna Ranatunga’s office, mentioning him as one of those who were absent. The list also gives the names of the MPs who voted for or against the Budget.

Our efforts to contact MP Dissanayake failed because he did not answer his mobile phone. However, JVP spokesperson and NPP MP Vijitha Herath, and NPP MP Dr. Harini Amarasuriya insisted that their leader had voted against the Budget, along with them.

According to the list prepared by Minister Ranatunga’s Office, MPs Herath and Dr. Amarasuriya voted against Budget 2024 while their leader Dissanayake was absent. Budget 2024 received 122 votes. Eighty-one MPs voted against it, one abstained, while 20 were absent.