By Wasantha RamanayakeView(s): The 2021 budget has been defeated in several Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna-controlled local councils, underscoring a growing political crisis at grassroots level. The Ampara Urban Council’s Budget vote ended up in a tie with six members voting for it and six against on December 4 during the first reading. But during the second reading, the council’s chairman, Jaminda Sugath who represents the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), made some amendments and declared that the budget had been duly passed, without going for a vote, despite the opposition’s demand that a vote be taken. The SLPP’s biggest local council budget defeat came from the Haldummulla Pradeshiya Sabha where only three members of the 20-member council, voted in favor of the budget. Opposing the budget four SLPP members voted with the Opposition.