The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), Sri Lanka’s leading private sector representative, has welcomed the National Budget 2026, describing it as a roadmap for policy stability, fiscal discipline, and debt management aligned with the country’s medium-term reform goals.
In a statement, the CCC said that policy consistency is vital for maintaining a transformative growth path built on low inflation, stable interest rates, and renewed investor confidence.
With the post-crisis, consumption-driven recovery now slowing, the CCC emphasized that Sri Lanka must channel its recent fiscal gains into productive public investments. It pointed out that targeted capital expenditure in areas such as infrastructure, digital services, transport, tourism, energy, education, health, and agriculture — along with well-designed social welfare measures — could drive the next phase of inclusive growth.
The Chamber welcomed the inclusion of 18 of its proposals in the 2026 Budget, including initiatives such as the establishment of a Trade National Single Window, phased para-tariff elimination, a public-private partnership (PPP) framework, a digital Single Window for approvals, the rollout of the first Digital ID and 5G licensing, development of a National Land Use Plan, the restart of the Bandaranaike International Airport expansion, tourism promotion programs, and the introduction of the Public Commercial Business Management Act to strengthen state-owned enterprise (SOE) governance.
However, the CCC cautioned that the success of the Budget will ultimately depend on effective implementation. “Delivering on commitments such as the Trade National Single Window, PPP legislation, tourism destination marketing, and digital transformation initiatives is essential to translating policy intent into measurable outcomes,” it said.
The Chamber further underscored the need to strengthen tax administration to expand the tax base, improve compliance, and enhance public sector efficiency to support SOE restructuring, trade facilitation, and digital governance reforms.
It also noted that investor confidence could have been further bolstered through targeted incentives, considering Sri Lanka’s potential as a strategic link in global supply chains. The CCC called for clarity on the future of the Economic Transformation Act, accelerated SOE and PPP legislation, and alignment of reforms under the B-Ready Index to achieve the 7 percent growth target outlined in the budget.
