PARLIAMENT

• The presentation of the budget speech by the President, today at 12.00 p.m.
• Second Reading Debate scheduled from November 14th to the 21st – Vote for the Second Reading scheduled for Tuesday, November 21st at 6:00 p.m.
• Committee Stage Debate scheduled for Wednesday, the 22nd of November to Wednesday, the 13th of December - Vote for the Third Reading scheduled for Wednesday, 13th December at 6.00 p.m.

The Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill for the year 2024 or the 'Budget Speech' is scheduled to be presented to the Parliament today (13) at around 12.00 pm by President Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Minister of Finance.

Thereafter, from November 14th to the 21st, the Second Reading debate of the Appropriation Bill (Budget) will be held for 7 days excluding Sundays. Accordingly, the vote on the Second Reading of the budget for the financial year 2024 is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, November 21st at 6.00 p.m.

Furthermore, the Committee Stage debate will be held for 19 days from Wednesday, the 22nd of November to Wednesday, the 13th of December, excluding Sundays. Accordingly, the vote on the Third Reading of the budget for the financial year 2024 is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, December 13th at 6:00 p.m.

During the period of the budget debate, time is allotted for 5 Questions for Oral Answers from 9.30 am to 10.00 am every day. Then the debate is scheduled to be held from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm and the Motion at the Adjournment Time will be held from 6.00 pm to 6.30 pm every other day except for the days voting has been scheduled.

According to the Appropriation Act of 2024, the total government expenditure is approximately at Rs. 7,833 billion out of which Rs. 3,861 billion have been allocated for Government Service Expenditure.

Moreover, to authorize the receipt of funds from within or outside of Sri Lanka during the financial year 2024, the limit of the amount of loan taken should not exceed 3,900 billion rupees pertaining to the 2024 fiscal year.

Post submitting this Appropriation Bill to the Parliament (first reading), it was submitted to the Committee on Public Finance of Parliament for which the related approval was received on the 9th.

Below is a summary of the spending estimates contained in the 2024 Appropriation Bill.

Committee Stage Programme [PDF]