The Appropriation Bill for 2027 was presented to Parliament on Wednesday by Deputy Minister of Finance Anil Jayantha, starting the parliamentary process for next year’s Budget.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is also Minister of Finance, is due to deliver the Budget speech on 12 November, when the Second Reading will also take place. The Second Reading debate will run for seven days from 13 to 20 November, with the vote at 6.00 p.m. on 20 November.
The Committee Stage debate will then run for 19 days from 21 November to 14 December. The final vote on the Third Reading is set for 6.00 p.m. on 14 December.
Parliament will also sit on Saturdays during the debate, but not on Sundays or public holidays.
In the Second Reading debate, 60 percent of the time goes to the Government and 40 percent to the Opposition. In the Committee Stage, the split is reversed.
