Sri Lanka Budget 2026

The second reading of the Appropriation Bill for the year 2026, or the Budget Speech, is scheduled to be presented today (07) afternoon.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, is scheduled to present the Budget Speech to Parliament at 01.30 pm today.

Accordingly, the Budget debate on the Appropriation Bill is scheduled to be held from tomorrow (08) to December 5, the Parliamentary Communications Department said.

The second reading vote on the Budget is scheduled to be held on Friday, November 14 at 6.00 pm.

The third reading of the Budget, or the Committee Stage debate, will be held for 17 days from November 15, and the third reading vote on the Budget is scheduled to be held on December 5 at 6 pm.

The Budget debate is scheduled to be held every day during the Budget period, except for public holidays and Sundays, the Parliamentary Communications Department said.

Budget Allocations

The total government expenditure in 2026 is Rs. 4,434 billion.

The largest amount of money allocated in the Appropriation Bill for the coming year is for the Ministry of Finance, which is Rs. 634 billion.

Rs. 618 billion has been allocated for the Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government, while Rs. 596 billion has been allocated for the Ministry of Public Administration.

The amount allocated for the Ministry of Health and Mass Media is Rs. 554 billion, while the amount allocated for the Ministry of Defense is Rs. 455 billion.

Rs. 301 billion has been allocated for the Ministry of Education, while Rs. 11 billion has been allocated for the President’s Expenditure Head.

This is an increase of about Rs. 8 billion compared to the Rs. 2.7 billion allocated for the President’s Expenditure Head in 2025.

It is stated that the allocation of Rs. 8.29 billion in 2026 mainly for development programs is the reason for the increase in the expenditure head.

Also, Rs. 488 billion has been allocated for pensions in the 2026 Appropriation Bill.

However, the maximum limit of domestic and foreign loans that can be obtained to cover the expenses for the year 2026 has been set at Rs. 3,800 billion, and the Appropriation Bill also states that it should not be exceeded.