February 17, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka is poised to witness the presentation of its 2025 Budget today, marking an important milestone as President Anura Kumara Dissanayake delivers his first-ever budget speech since assuming office.
Parliament will convene at 10:30 AM for this momentous occasion, with all eyes on the President as he outlines the fiscal priorities for the coming year.
On February 16, the final draft of the budget was presented to the President for review at the Presidential Secretariat. President Dissanayake and Finance Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana engaged in critical discussions centred on the country’s economic strategy for 2025, with particular emphasis on ensuring fiscal stability and promoting growth across various sectors.
The President’s Media Division (PMD) reported that these consultations are an integral part of the budget’s formulation process.
In a statement on the social media platform ‘X,’ President Dissanayake expressed his commitment to a budget that aims to foster national progress and stability, reinforcing his administration’s focus on sound fiscal management.
This sentiment reflects his vision of guiding the country through a period of recovery and development following the economic challenges of recent years.
As part of the preparatory process, a key meeting took place on February 13 to review the final stages of the budget’s preparation.
This session, chaired by President Dissanayake, was attended by various ministers and senior government officials, including the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Mahinda Siriwardana.
Earlier, on January 9, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya introduced the Appropriation Bill, which outlines the allocation of government funds for the 2025 financial year.
The second reading of this bill, which will feature the President’s budget speech, is scheduled to take place today, with the debate continuing through February 18-25.
The debate will span a full seven days, allowing members of Parliament to engage in detailed discussions on the budget’s provisions.
A crucial vote on the second reading of the bill is set for February 25 at 6:00 PM, followed by the Committee Stage Debate, which will be spread over 19 days, including four Saturdays, from February 27 to March 21.
The third reading and final vote on the bill will take place on March 21 at 6:00 PM.
Throughout the debate period, Parliament will allocate time from 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM for five questions to be answered orally, with the main debate running from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM each day.
Additionally, motions for adjournment will be scheduled from 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM, except on days when votes are held, such as February 25 and March 21.
The Cabinet’s spokesperson, Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, highlighted in a press briefing last November that the government intends to present the 2025 Budget with a clear focus on strengthening public trust and setting the stage for long-term national development.
This focus will be aligned with the priorities of various ministries, ensuring that the budget reflects the country’s strategic goals while adhering to limits set by the Public Finance Management Act of 2024 and the overarching Government Policy Statement.
