February 24, Colombo (LNW): The parliamentary debate on the second reading of the Budget Appropriation Bill 2025 will continue for the sixth day today (24).
This critical debate is being held as part of the ongoing discussions that have been taking place over several days in Parliament.
The session is set to begin at 9.30 AM today, with lawmakers continuing their deliberations on the proposed budget for the year.
The second reading, also referred to as the budget speech, was delivered last week by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his role as the Minister of Finance.
During his speech, the President outlined the government’s fiscal priorities and economic strategies for the coming year, marking the presentation of Sri Lanka’s 79th national budget.
The second reading debate is scheduled to last for a full seven days, beginning on February 18 and concluding on February 25.
This period of discussion allows Members of Parliament to scrutinise the budget and present their views on the proposed fiscal measures.
Following this phase, attention will turn to the Committee Stage Debate, which will commence on February 27 and continue until March 21.
This stage will involve detailed examinations of the budgetary provisions, with discussions taking place over 19 days, including four Saturdays.
This stage is critical for MPs to propose amendments and seek clarifications on specific aspects of the budget.
The final vote on the third reading of the Appropriation Bill is scheduled for March 21 at 6.00 PM.
This will mark the conclusion of the parliamentary process for the 79th budget, with the government hoping for its approval to move forward with its fiscal plans for the year.
