The debate on the Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill for 2026 is set to begin in Parliament today (08) and will continue for six days, until November 14, according to the Department of Communication of Parliament.

The vote on the Second Reading of the Budget will take place on November 14 at 6.00 p.m.

Following this, the Committee Stage debate on the Appropriation Bill for 2026 will be held for 17 days, including three Saturdays, from November 15 to December 5. The vote on the Third Reading of the Bill is scheduled for December 5 at 6.00 p.m.

Accordingly, the entire Budget debate will run from November 8 to December 5, 2025.

The Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill, also known as the Budget Speech, was presented to Parliament yesterday (07) by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as Minister of Finance.

At around 1.30 p.m., in keeping with parliamentary tradition, the President entered the Chamber from the Office of the President within the Parliament premises, preceded by the Serjeant-at-Arms.The Budget proposals were presented until 5.50 p.m.