By Maheesha Mudugamuwa The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has not yet taken a decision on the final vote on the 2019 Budget, SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara said. “We have not yet decided whether to abstain from voting or vote against the Budget,” he told The Sunday Morning. However, a decision would be taken this week, he added. Earlier, SLFP Treasurer S.B. Dissanayake said that the party had decided to vote against the Budget but later he clarified that the SLFP would most probably abstain from voting during the final vote. The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) called on the SLFP to make its stand clear to bolster confidence between the two parties, which were in talks to form a coalition. The second round of talks between the SLFP and SLPP which is focused on creating a broader alliance, was held on Thursday (21). MP Jayasekara said the two parties have agreed on several issues and another round was scheduled to be held on 10 April. MP Jayasekara, Thilanga Sumathipala, and Prof. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa represent the SLFP at the discussions held at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Colombo while SLPP Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris, Dullas Alahapperuma, and lecturer Jagath Wellawatta represented the SLPP. The first round of talks between these two parties on creating a broader alliance was held on the 14 March. Soon after the first rounds of talks, it was announced that the SLPP had come to an agreement to nominate former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa as their next presidential candidate. However, Jayasekara said such a decision had not been formally communicated to the SLFP. Jayasekara also said the SLFP would take a decision within the party regarding the presidential candidate of the SLFP.