04.08 pm:
The 2026 budget allocates Rs. 67,200 million to improve public transportation. This includes Rs. 3,600 million for 600 new SLTB buses, Rs. 2,062 million to replace 307 worn-out engine units, and Rs. 790 million for depot upgrades.
The President said Rs. 3,300 million is set aside for five new Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) for Sri Lanka Railways and ongoing digitalization efforts, including e-ticketing.
Additionally, Rs. 2,000 million will support rural transport routes affected by reduced private bus services.
04.05 pm:
Rs. 85,700 million has been allocated for drinking and community water supply projects in key districts, as access currently meets only 62% of national demand.
Private sector collaboration is essential to support infrastructure development, the President stressed.
04.03 pm:
The President said that to mitigate flood risks in areas such as Colombo, Gampaha, Galle, Ampara, Mannar, and Puttalam, an integrated plan will be developed in collaboration with relevant agencies.
Rs. 250 million has been allocated for a medium-term framework.
04.01 pm:
President Dissanayake said the total Allocation for Irrigation is Rs. 91,700 million to boost agriculture, regional development, and job creation by resuming suspended projects.
The President said Rs. 500 million has been allocated for improving infrastructure at wharves to reduce post-harvest losses.
Rs. 100 million allocated to develop a satellite-based system for identifying fish grounds and sharing information with fishermen and Rs. 100 million allocated for upgrading aquaculture centres to boost fish seed supply and enhance freshwater fish availability, he said.
03.56 pm:
President Dissanayake said Rs. 2,500 million has been allocated to implement a program to increase productivity and exports in the coconut sector by supporting small-scale growers with less than five acres, who form part of the 447,000 acres under coconut cultivation.
Rs. 600 million has been allocated to expand coconut cultivation in the Northern Coconut Triangle, following recommendations from the Coconut Research Institute, the President said.
The President said Rs. 3,000 million will be allocated to resume and complete the stalled Badalgama Dairy Factory project, including machinery repairs and factory renovations.
The project, halted since 2022 after Rs. 18,000 million in public funds had already been spent, aims to boost local milk production and support the national economy. The Narahenpita Milk Factory is proposed to be moved to this location.
03.50 pm:
President Dissanayake said Rs. 1,000 million has been allocated for the preliminary work, including the feasibility study of this project under the “Small and Medium-sized Livestock Development Programme.
03.47 pm:
The President said Rs. 250 million will be allocated to complete construction and install a solar panel system at the non-operational Dambulla Cold Storage facility, which has a 5,000 metric ton capacity.
The government also plans to explore improved management and operational methods for the facility. The President acknowledged that the facility is not operational in its current state.
03.46 pm:
The President said the 2026 budget proposes government support for the operational and essential capital expenses of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, and Independent Television Network due to financial difficulties.
Additionally, Rs. 100 million will be allocated for higher education scholarships and technical training to enhance journalists’ skills in line with modern media advancements, he said.
03.44 pm:
The President said Rs. 240 million has been allocated to uplift self-employment, household industries, etc., carried out by women entrepreneurs across the island at the Divisional Secretariat level.
He further said that an additional Rs. 200 million is proposed to be allocated for programmes aimed at the welfare of women.
President Dissanayake said Rs. 50 million has been allocated to the existing allocations to promote drama, performing arts and literature as an area of cultural enrichment.
03.41 pm:
President Dissanayake said that to strengthen wildlife conservation and mitigate human-elephant conflict
- Rs. 1,000 million allocated for completing electric fence construction and related activities.
- Rs. 300 million allocated to repair, complete, or construct electric fences in essential areas.
- Approval granted to procure 294 essential vehicles and modern communication equipment for the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
- Rs. 375 million allocated for food and fuel allowances to support 5,000 Civil Security Service officers assigned to wildlife monitoring.
- Officers will receive special training and be permanently attached to monitor elephant enclosures.
- Rs. 80 million allocated for pasture and water source management to ensure adequate food and water for elephants.
03.40 pm:
The President said Rs. 4.2 billion has been allocated for the Suwa Seriya Ambulance Service.
03.38 pm:
The President said a concessional housing loan scheme and a contributory pension scheme will be introduced for Sri Lankan migrant workers in recognition of their contribution to the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
The programs will be implemented using funds from the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), with Rs. 2,000 million allocated for the initial phase.
03.35 pm:
The President said the daily wage for estate workers is to be increased from Rs. 1,350 to Rs. 1,750 by January 2026.
“It is our position that estate workers should be paid a fair daily wage commensurate with their service. It is proposed to increase the current minimum daily wage of Rs. 1,350 to Rs. 1,550 from January 2026. Furthermore, in addition to the salary of Rs. 1,550, it is proposed to pay Rs. 200 as a daily attendance incentive by the government. It is proposed to allocate Rs. 5,000 million for this purpose.”
“If tea estates are not properly managed, fertilized, and crops are not developed, they will be taken over by the state. Agreements will not be renewed after 2041. The industry is 150 years old. If the management can’t still pay a worker a daily wage of Rs. 1750, what is the meaning of this industry?,” the President questioned.
03.27 pm:
President Dissanayake said Health Centres will be established across the country to serve between 5,000 and 10,000 people each.
Rs. 1,500 million to be allocated for the pilot project to introduce Primary healthcare centres, he said.
The President said Rs. 11,000 million has been allocated for medical faculties in state universities.
Rs. 200 million has been allocated for initial work, including the feasibility study and contract preparations, for the construction of a state-of-the-art, 16-storey cardiac hospital, which is expected to be completed within three years, the President said.
03.23 pm:
The President said Rs. 50 million will be allocated to provide Rs. 5,000 in educational assistance for differently-abled children, encouraging these children to be integrated into the mainstream education.
The Mahapola and student allowance for university students will be increased by Rs. 2,500.
The monthly allowance for students of teacher training colleges will be increased by Rs. 2,500, he said.
03.19 pm:
Rs. 500 million has been allocated to strengthen day-care centers that provide care for children with autism and other special needs, the President said.
03.17 pm:
The President said the government proposes to provide an allowance of up to Rs. 15,000, covering 50% of the salary, for any differently-abled individual employed by a private company, for a period of up to two years.
An allocation of Rs. 500 million has been set aside for this initiative, he said.
03.15 pm:
President Dissanayake says service accessibility will be improved for the differently-abled community with an allocation of Rs. 1000 million.
Rs. 2000 million has been allocated for the ‘Ratama Ekata’ program, including urgent prison reforms, the President said.
The President says it has been proposed to establish a virtual economic zone to promote investments. He said discussions are underway with the BOI in this regard.
03.10 pm:
The President said Rs. 6,500 million has been allocated to the Clean Sri Lanka Initiative.
President Dissanayake said a five-year tax exemption will be granted for digital communication towers. The government has decided to construct 100 towers.
03.07 pm :
The Agni Fund will be established to accelerate the startup ecosystem, with Rs. 1,500 million allocated under the Digital Economy Ministry’s expenditure head, the President said.
03.06 pm :
The President said that a broadband voucher will be provided to children from Aswesuma beneficiary households and low-income families, with access limited to approved educational websites, the president said, to promote inclusive digital access.
President Dissanayake said all government payments will be brought under a digital payment system.
He further said no service charges will be imposed for online payments.
03.02 pm :
The President said the first Digital National Identity Card will be issued by March 2026.
The data will be entered and managed by a Sri Lankan company, with no scope for it to be accessed by any foreign entity, the president said.
Leading Sri Lankan experts have contributed their scientific input to the process, he said.
Despite some attempts to challenge it through legal action, he expressed gratitude to the Supreme Court for dismissing the petition.
03.00 pm:
President Dissanayake said that Rs. 2,500 million has been proposed to develop Beira Lake into a tourist attraction in Colombo.
02.56 pm:
The President said Rs. 1,000 million will be allocated to develop the Hingurakgoda, Sigiriya, and Trincomalee domestic airports, and to expand operations at Jaffna Airport. The Civil Aviation Authority will be involved for this purpose.
President Dissanayake said that within the first half of next year, all halted projects at the Katunayake Airport will be restarted.
02.54 pm:
President Dissanayake said state bungalows will be turned into profitable ventures under a Public-Private Partnership. A total of 900 such buildings have been identified.
He further said Haputale will be developed as a key tourist destination.
02.50 pm :
The President said funds have been allocated to provide loans of up to Rs. 50 million at concessionary interest rates for small and medium-scale entrepreneurs.
Rs. 800 million is proposed to be allocated to establish a sustainable Agricultural Loan Fund, he said.
The President said Rs. 5,900 million was allocated for loans to small and medium-scale entrepreneurs.
02.47 pm:
President Dissanayake said Rs. 1,000 million has been allocated for the development of services related to investment zones.
The President says Rs. 250 million will be allocated to the Export Development Board to promote and facilitate exports.
02.42 pm :
President Dissanayake said Rs. 2500 million was allocated to create the National Single-Window (NSW) framework for trade this year.
02.41 pm:
President Dissanayake says two technical institutes built in Kurunegala and Galle are now abandoned.
Their outstanding debts will be settled this year, and the institutions will be reopened for private sector investment.
The President said two IT zones are planned in Digana and Nuwara Eliya under the BOI.
Investors will be provided with residence visas based on their investments with the BOI.
02.35 pm:
The President said steps are being taken to bring the direct and indirect tax rates to a 60:40 ratio.
02.31 pm :
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the Strategic Development Projects Act and the Port City Commission Act will be amended at the beginning of 2026, through which they expect to streamline foreign investments in Sri Lanka.
02.27 pm :
The President said it is projected that State revenue will exceed 15.3% of the GDP by 2026.
Our goal is to increase this up to 20% in the long term, he said.
02.22 pm:
The President said unemployment has reduced from 4.5% in the first quarter of 2024 to 3.8% in the first quarter of 2025.
02.19 pm :
A potential growth opportunity of USD 15 million has been identified in the digital economy, the president said.
02.18 pm :
The President said this year’s debt servicing totals USD 2,435 million, of which USD 1,948 million was repaid by September.
The remaining USD 487 million is scheduled for repayment by December.
This marks an increase of USD 761 million compared to last year, he said.
02.16 pm :
The President says Letters of Credit worth 1,333 million US dollars have been issued for vehicle imports by October 31, this year. We have brought vehicles for USD 1363 million.
On debt repayments, the president said the government aims to reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio to below 90% by 2032, and expressed confidence in achieving this target.
02.08 pm :
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said import revenue has increased by USD 02 billion by September this year, and the government expects it to increase by the same amount this month too.
We anticipate achieving a 7% economic growth rate over the medium term, the president said.
02.07 pm:
President Dissanayake said that a digital assets system will be introduced in 2026.
02.03 pm :
The President said an expert committee is expected to be appointed to draft a code of ethics for the judicial service.
01.59 pm :
The President said the US$ 210 million debt component of SriLankan Airlines would be restructured this year.
President Dissanayake said that the government plans to introduce an e-procurement system soon.
01.57 pm :
The president said the country’s official reserve assets are expected to approach USD 7 billion by year-end.
01.55 pm:
Foreign direct investment reached USD 823 million by September this year, reflecting renewed investor confidence, the President said.
01.45 pm:
The Aswesuma beneficiaries will be reviewed in 2026 to ensure the welfare program remains free from political influence, the President said.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said while previous leaders projected a return to 2019 economic levels by 2029, his government expects to restore Sri Lanka’s pre-crisis economy by the end of 2025.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated in his budget speech that the government aims to keep inflation below 5%.
He claimed foreign exchange levels are stable, and that both exports and foreign remittances remain strong.
01.35 pm:
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has commenced presenting the Appropriation Bill for the 2026 financial year to Parliament.
The total estimated government expenditure from 01 January 2026 to 31 December 2026 has been set at Rs. 4,434 billion.
Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya today presented in Parliament the Appropriation Bill for the 2026 financial year.
The Appropriation Bill for the 2026 financial year outlines the government’s proposed expenditure for the year from 01 January 2026 to 31 December 2026.
01.20 pm:
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has arrived in Parliament to present the Appropriation Bill for the 2026 financial year.
The President, in his capacity as Minister of Finance, will deliver the second reading of the Appropriation Bill for the year 2026, commonly referred to as the Budget Speech.