President Maithripala Sirisena is expected to meet the SLFP MPs in the Parliamentary Complex this morning, in a bid to secure the highest possible number of votes for the government's budget proposals.

The vote on the Second Reading of the budget will be taken at 5.00pm today.

The UNP MPs are expected to vote for the budget, almost ensuring its approval at the Parliament. The UNP holds 106 seats in the Parliament.

MEanwhile, the UPFA, specifically the SLFP, remains divided on the budget. The SLFP MPs who support the national government are expected to vote for it. However, there are around 50 UPFA MPs who have reportedly expressed their opposition to the budget.

Some UPFA MPs have vowed to defeat the budget, and have claimed that even certain UNP Parliamentarians will oppose it.