November 10, Colombo (LNW): The third day of discussions on the Second Reading of the 2026 Appropriation Bill will resume in Parliament this morning (11), with proceedings beginning at 9:30 a.m. and the main budget debate set to start at 11:00 a.m.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake presented the 2026 Budget to the House last Friday, outlining the government’s financial roadmap for the coming year. The proposed figures forecast state revenue at approximately Rs. 5,300 million, while total expenditure is projected to reach Rs. 7,057 million—leaving a shortfall of Rs. 1,757 million, equivalent to 5.1 per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.
Parliamentary debate on the Second Reading will continue over six sittings, culminating in a vote on Friday (14) at 6:00 p.m. Once concluded, attention will turn to the Committee Stage—often regarded as the most detailed phase of scrutiny—which is set to run for 17 days, from November 15 until December 05. The final vote on the Third Reading is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on December 05.
Sessions are expected to be held daily throughout the Budget Period, with the exception of Sundays and public holidays. Lawmakers are anticipated to engage in rigorous exchanges as fiscal priorities and spending commitments for 2026 come under close examination.
