Sri Lanka Freedom Party MPs in opposition defied the party decision to support the budget and voted against it.

The SLFP had earlier taken a decision to support the budget during a recent Central Committee meeting. However, at a subsequent discussion, President Maithripala Sirisena reportedly allowed a free vote to the MPs on the budget.

Changing his stance, Sirisena requested the MPs to refrain from voting against the budget when he met them today.

The opposition SLFP MPs have defied both the party decision and Sirisena's request in voting against the budget.