Around 40% of the proposals included in Sri Lanka’s 2025 Budget have not been implemented to any significant extent, according to a study by PublicFinance.lk, a platform operated by Verité Research.
However, the proportion of budget proposals fully implemented has increased to 33%, marking the highest level recorded since the annual assessments began in 2017.
The review examined 36 high-cost proposals in the 2025 Budget, each with an allocation of at least Rs. 500 million. Together, these proposals were valued at Rs. 212.25 billion.
According to the findings, 12 proposals, representing 33% of the total, were fully implemented, while three proposals (8%) were implemented to a significant extent.
A further eight proposals (22%) were partially implemented, while five (14%) recorded poor progress. One proposal (3%) remained unfulfilled, and no progress information was disclosed for seven proposals (19%).
When proposals without disclosed progress information are excluded, approximately 39% of the assessed proposals failed to show significant progress.
The study also highlighted an improvement in the implementation of budget commitments. In 2024, only 17% of the assessed proposals were fully implemented. That figure increased to 33% in 2025, reaching the highest level recorded since the assessments began in 2017.
