Nov 17, Colombo: Sri Lanka parliament passed the Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill (2013) with a majority of 103 votes today, when it was taken for vote on the seventh allotted day.

When a Division by name of the MPs was taken, 156 voted in favor while 53 were against it. The main opposition United National Party has voted against the Appropriation Bill.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as the Minister of Finance presented the Appropriation Bill to the parliament on November 08.

The ruling coalition UPFA has more than two-third majority of 161 members while the combined opposition has only 63 members in the parliament.

Following the vote the Appropriation Bill was referred to the Committee of the whole Parliament. The committee stage debate will begin on November 19 and continue until December 8 in 16 allotted days including Saturdays. The final vote on the budget (third Reading) will take place on December 8.

The Appropriation Bill to authorize the expenditure required during the 2013 financial year presented, forecasts a 13.5 percent increase in spending from this year's estimate of 2.22 trillion rupees to 2.52 trillion rupees for next year.