The Secretary General of Parliament, Kushani Rohanadeera, announced that the second reading of the 2026 Appropriation Bill, also known as the Budget Speech, will take place on 7 November 2025. This will be followed by the budget debate from 8th of November to 5th of December 2025, as decided at yesterday’s (11th) Committee on Parliamentary Business meeting chaired by Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramarathne.
The first reading of the Appropriation Bill is scheduled for 26th of September 2025. The President, in his capacity as Finance Minister, will present the second reading (Budget Speech) on 7th of November, with the second reading debate allocated six days, from 8th to 14th November. The vote on the second reading will be held on 14th of November at 6:00 PM.
The Committee Stage debate will then run for 17 days, from 15th of November to 5th of December, culminating with the third reading vote on 5 December at 6:00 PM. During this period, budget debates will be held daily, including Saturdays, except on public holidays and Sundays. Parliament will convene at 9:30 a.m. on Mondays and at 9:00 a.m. on all other days during the Committee Stage debate.
Each day, five Questions for Oral Answers and one Question under Standing Orders 27(2) will be addressed, in addition to business under Standing Orders 22(1) to (6). Budget debates will continue until 6:00 PM, followed by Motions at Adjournment Time from 6:00 to 6:30 PM, except on vote days, with speaking time divided equally between the government and opposition, the Secretary-General added.
