May 29, Colombo (LNW): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake convened a high-level meeting today at the Presidential Secretariat to initiate discussions on the 2026 national budget, focusing on district-level development and the immediate needs of communities across the country.
The meeting brought together Chairpersons of District Coordination Committees and senior officials from the Ministry of Finance, with the primary objective of gathering proposals and strategic input to shape a people-centred budget.
According to the President’s Media Division, President Dissanayake underscored the importance of aligning national fiscal planning with the practical, day-to-day concerns of citizens in all regions.
He stressed that the upcoming budget must prioritise “the basic and urgent needs of the people,” signalling a shift toward more inclusive and ground-level policymaking that reflects the realities faced by rural and urban communities alike.
The gathering featured in-depth dialogue on the progress of existing development projects in the districts, as well as critical gaps in infrastructure and services that need to be addressed through the next budget cycle.
Attendees were encouraged to identify initiatives with the potential for high social impact, especially in areas where communities continue to face challenges in accessing essential services such as healthcare, education, transport, and water supply.
Amongst those who took part in the discussions were Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwardana, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Russell Aponsu, Director General of Public Finance E.A. Rathnaseela, and Assistant Director General of the Department of National Budget M. Anoma Nandani. A number of other senior Finance Ministry officials were also present.
