February 16, Colombo (LNW): The highly anticipated 2025 Government Budget will be presented to the Sri Lankan Parliament tomorrow (17), marking a significant moment as it will be the first budget under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s administration.
Parliament is set to convene at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow for the presentation of the budget speech, which will outline the government’s financial plans and priorities for the upcoming year.
In the lead-up to the budget presentation, President Dissanayake chaired a crucial meeting on February 13 to finalise the details of the budget. The session was attended by several key ministers and senior officials, including Mahinda Siriwardana, the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance.
The discussions focused on finalising the key elements of the budget and ensuring alignment with the government’s broader economic and social goals.
Earlier this year, on January 09, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya introduced the Appropriation Bill, which serves to allocate funds for government expenditure for the 2025 financial year.
The budget speech, or second reading of the bill, will take place tomorrow, and the subsequent debate will run from February 18 to 25, lasting a total of seven days. A vote on the second reading will be held on February 25 at 6:00 p.m.
Following the second reading, the Committee Stage Debate on the Appropriation Bill will span 19 days, including four Saturdays, from February 27 to March 21. The final vote on the third reading of the bill is scheduled for March 21 at 6:00 p.m.
During the debate, daily sessions will run from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with a half-hour window from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. allocated for questions for oral answers. Motions at adjournment time will be scheduled from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., with the exception of February 25 and March 21, when votes are to be held.
In his remarks at a Cabinet press briefing on November 26, 2024, Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa highlighted that the 2025 budget would be crafted with an emphasis on bolstering public trust and advancing national development in line with the aspirations of the Sri Lankan people.
In this regard, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal from President Dissanayake, who also serves as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, to ensure that the 2025 budget aligns with the various projects and initiatives identified by each ministry.
Furthermore, it will adhere strictly to the expenditure guidelines outlined by the Public Finance Management Act, No. 44 of 2024, and the Government Policy Statement.
The government is committed to a transparent and strategic financial plan that meets the expectations of the public while fostering long-term growth and stability for the nation.
