November 02, Colombo (LNW): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is set to deliver his high-stakes second budget on November 7, forging a critical path between IMF mandates and public relief. Sources confirm the 2026 fiscal plan strategically avoids new taxes, despite IMF recommendations for additional levies.
Instead, the administration will launch an aggressive revenue drive focused on enforcement, optimizing collection from the Inland Revenue, Customs, and Excise departments, and penalizing evaders to broaden the tax net.
This decisive strategy aims to fund a robust relief package for low-income groups and crucial incentives for exports and SMEs.
The budget’s core objectives are clear: attract vital Foreign Direct Investment, aggressively boost foreign exchange earnings, and stabilize the economy, all while cushioning the public from further economic shocks. The presentation is poised to define Sri Lanka’s recovery trajectory.
