The 2025 Government Budget is set to be presented to Parliament tomorrow (17), marking President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s first budget since assuming office.
Parliament will convene at 10:30 a.m. for the budget speech, following a final preparatory discussion led by the President on February 13. The meeting, attended by key ministers and finance officials, including Finance Ministry Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana, focused on the concluding stages of the budget’s formulation, according to the Presidential Media Division (PMD).
The budget process began on January 9 when Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya tabled the Appropriation Bill to allocate funds for the 2025 financial year.
The second reading (Budget Speech) will take place tomorrow (17), followed by a seven-day debate from February 18 to 25, with a vote scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on February 25. The Committee Stage Debate will then run from February 27 to March 21, spanning 19 days, including four Saturdays, before the final vote on March 21 at 6:00 p.m.
During the budget debate, parliamentary sessions will include a daily Q&A segment from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., with the debate running from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Adjournment motions will be taken up from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., except on voting days.
Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa previously stated that the 2025 Budget aims to rebuild public trust and drive national development. In line with this, the Cabinet approved President Dissanayake’s proposal to ensure budget allocations align with ministry-identified projects while adhering to the Public Finance Management Act, No. 44 of 2024, and the Government Policy Statement.
