2025-11-07
News Categories : News
The Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill for the year 2026 (the Budget Speech) was presented to Parliament today (Nov. 07) by Hon. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as the Minister of Finance.
At around 1.30 p.m. today, in keeping with tradition, the Hon. President arrived at the Chamber from the Office of the President within the Parliament premises, preceded by the Serjeant-at-Arms. Subsequently, the Budget proposals were presented until 5.50 p.m.
This budget, the second of the new government, will go down in history as the 80th budget of independent Sri Lanka. Foreign ambassadors, Governors, high-ranking government officials, heads of forces, judges and many other guests attended the event.
The debate on the Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill for the year 2026 is scheduled to be held over a period of six days, from November 8 to November 14. Thereafter, the vote on the Second Reading of the Budget will be taken on November 14 at 6.00 p.m.
Subsequently, the Committee Stage debate on the Appropriation Bill for the year 2026 is scheduled to be held for 17 days, including three Saturdays, from November 15 to December 5. Following that, the vote on the Third Reading of the Appropriation Bill will be held on December 5 at 6.00 p.m.
Accordingly, the entire Budget debate is scheduled to be held from November 8 to December 5, 2025.
2025-11-07
The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees of Parliament, Mrs. Hemali Weerasekara, stated that a leader is not a person who enjoys power, but that a leader is someone who serves their country and their people. She further emphasized that power is not an ornament, but merely a tool that should be used for the betterment of a larger community, and that every leader should always remember this. The Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees made these remarks while addressing the inaugural meeting of the Student Parliament of Kirillawala Central College, held at the Old Parliament Chamber of the Presidential Secretariat on 31.10.2025. She also stressed the importance of listening to others and acting collectively in a democratic and law-abiding manner. Further, the Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees explained how student parliaments operate at the international level and pointed out that through the Student Parliament in Sri Lanka, students are given the opportunity to submit proposals not only for the betterment of their own school but also for the benefit of society as a whole. Subsequently, the inaugural session of the Student Parliament commenced, during which the Speaker of the Student Parliament took the oath, followed by the swearing-in of the Members. Afterwards, each Minister and Deputy Minister presented to the Parliament the proposals including the programs expected to be implemented within the school through their respective ministries. Addressing the Student Parliament, Director (Legislative Services) and Director Communication (Acting) of the Parliament, Mr. M. Jayalath Perera, pointed out that the Student Parliament serves as a great platform for the personal development and enhancement of the skills of the children. He also made the students aware of the parliamentary legislative process and its functions. At this event, the participating students were awarded certificates by the Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees and other distinguished guests. This program, which was part of the series of Student Parliament programs jointly organized by the Presidential Secretariat and the Department of Communication of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, was attended by Senior Additional Secretary to the President Mr. Subash Roshan Gamage, Director General of Public Relations of the Presidential Secretariat Mr. Dharmasiri Gamage, Assistant Director of the Presidential Secretariat Major Nadeeka Dangolla, and the Principal of Kirillawala Central College Mr. R. W. M. A. Bandara Weerasinghe, along with members of the academic staff.
2025-11-06
The Budget Debate will be held for 23 days from November 8 to December 5Second Reading Debate from November 8 to 14 - Second Reading Vote on November 14 at 6.00 pm.Committee Stage Debate from November 15 to December 5 - Third Reading Vote on December 5 at 6.00 pm The Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill for the year 2026 (Budget Speech) is scheduled to be presented to Parliament tomorrow (07) at 1.30 p.m. by the Hon. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance.Subsequently, the debate on the Appropriation Bill (Budget Debate) is scheduled to be held from November 8 to December 5, 2025.The Appropriation Bill for 2026, which was presented to Parliament for the First Reading on September 26, 2025, will have its Second Reading Debate for 6 days from November 8 to 14. Accordingly, the vote on the Second Reading will be held on November 14 at 6.00 p.m.The Committee Stage Debate on the Appropriation Bill for the year 2026 will take place for 17 days, from November 15 to December 5, including 3 Saturdays. The Third Reading Vote on the Appropriation Bill will then be held on December 5 at 6.00 p.m.During the Budget Period the Budget Debate will be held every day, including Saturdays, except for public holidays and Sundays. Also, during the Committee Stage Debate Period, Parliament is scheduled to meet at 9.30 a.m. on Mondays and at 9.00 a.m. on all other days.Accordingly, during this period, in addition to the business under Standing Orders 22(1) to (6), time has been allocated for 5 Questions for Oral Answers and 1 Question under Standing Orders 27(2). Also, during this period, the Budget Debate is scheduled to be held until 6.00 p.m. and on all days except voting days, from 6.00 to 6.30 p.m., time will be allotted for Motions at the Adjournment Time based on a 50:50 allocation between the Government and the Opposition.
2025-11-03
A ceremony to felicitate students who achieved outstanding results in the 2023/2024 GCE Advanced Level Examination, under the President’s Fund programme for honouring high achievers, was held yesterday (Nov. 02) at the Badulla Library Auditorium, under the patronage of Hon. Speaker (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne. At this event, 240 students from the Badulla and Monaragala Districts who ranked between 1st and 10th place in six subject streams at the GCE Advanced Level examinations of 2023 and 2024 received certificates of appreciation and incentive awards of Rs. 100,000 each. A total of Rs. 24 million from the President’s Fund has been allocated for this purpose. Senior Additional Secretary to the President and Secretary of the President’s Fund, Mr. Roshana Gamage, delivered the welcome speech and explained the objectives of the programme. Addressing the gathering, Hon. Speaker (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne stated that the present government is making a significant investment in education, emphasizing that nothing is more valuable for a nation’s future than investment in education. He further said that if children contribute to the country through the knowledge they gain, the government’s investment will truly benefit the nation. “We want you to become educated and wise. A wise person will never build an atomic bomb. If an educated person engages in fraud, that education has no value. In such a situation, only learning exists, not wisdom. Therefore, if you use your education for the betterment of the country, you will repay the nourishment and care your parents provided to raise you into who you are today,” the Speaker added. Speaking at the event, Hon. Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, Samantha Vidyaratne, noted that the government is pleased to support programmes of this nature aimed at strengthening the future of children, in line with the new administration’s vision. The Minister also expressed gratitude to the President’s Fund for facilitating this initiative. He further explained that the President’s Fund was established to provide relief to those affected by poverty and to build a brighter future for the children of the nation through education. The present government has taken measures to operate the President’s Fund in a more structured and decentralized manner so that qualified beneficiaries at the regional level now receive its support. Meanwhile, a special one-day training programme aimed at decentralizing the activities of the President’s Fund was conducted on 1st of November 2025 at the Badulla District Secretariat for officers in charge from all Divisional Secretariats in the Uva Province. Hon. Deputy Minister of Tourism Professor Ruwan Ranasinghe, Hon. Members of Parliament Sudath Balagalla and Attorney-at-Law Sarath Kumara, Mayor of Badulla Nandana Kelumsiri Hapugoda, Chief Secretary of the Uva Province Anusha Gokula Perera, Secretary to the Uva Education Ministry Nihal Gunaratne, District Secretary of Badulla Panduka Sri Prabath Aberathna, District Secretary of Monaragala A. G. Nishantha, along with government officials, scholarship recipients and their parents were present at the occasion.
2025-10-31
The Hon. Speaker, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, endorsed the certificate on the Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Bill on 30.10.2025.The third reading of the Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Bill took place on 21.10.2025 and it was passed by Parliament with amendments.This is a Bill to amend the Personal Data Protection Act, No. 9 of 2022. This bill, which was published in the Gazette on 27 March 2025 and presented to Parliament by the Minister of Digital Economy on 08 May 2025, introduces amendments that are considered essential in the implementation of the principal Act.Accordingly, this Bill amends Sections 1, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 52, 53, 56 and Schedule VI of the principal Act, and replaces Section 26 and introduces a new Section 51A in to the Principal Act.Recognizing the importance of having an institution to exercise regulatory powers and to prepare for future developments related to data, this Act will facilitate equal support for both the public and private sectors in adopting digital strategies and ensure that the rights of data subjects are meaningfully protected.Accordingly, this bill comes into force as the Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Act No. 22 of 2025.
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