President puts final touches to 2027 Budget

Daily Mirror and Tamilmirror report that the Cabinet approved the 2027 Budget before it was presented in Parliament. Lankadeepa reports that Cabinet spokesperson and minister Nalinda Jayatissa said ministers had approved recommendations submitted by the Finance Commission for 2027.

Newswire reports that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake delivered the Budget in Parliament on Nov. 12. Hiru News and Newsfirst (தமிழ்) had reported that he was scheduled to present it that day. Newsfirst (தமிழ்) identifies it as the 81st Budget of independent Sri Lanka and reports projected government spending of Rs. 4,992.77 billion for the coming year.

Rupavahini News reports that Dissanayake examined the completed Budget document at the Presidential Secretariat on Nov. 11, with Treasury Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma also present. The outlet says the document contains Rs. 2 trillion in capital allocations and targets economic growth and structural development, while citing the Ditwah disaster and the Middle East crisis as challenges.

Before the presentation, Daily FT characterized the planned Budget as oriented toward investment and said it was expected to offer some assistance to people affected by recent stabilisation policies, climate change and conflict in the Middle East. EconomyNext’s preview focused on oil-market shocks and the absence of large-scale projects, and said efforts to address corruption had not yet brought in much-needed investment.

Newswire reports that the speech proposed raising the income level exempt from personal tax, ending VAT on school exercise materials and printed books, changing public-service allowances and giving further support to pensioners. Ada Derana (தமிழ்) reports a planned rise in travel allowances for executive-level public servants.

Newswire reports proposed expressway spending of Rs. 117.3 billion. It lists Rs. 53.45 billion for the Kadawatha–Mirigama Central Expressway section, with completion targeted for September 2028; Rs. 4.5 billion for Pothuhera–Rambukkana, targeted for May 2027; and Rs. 2.35 billion for Rambukkana–Galagedara, targeted for July 2029. The outlet also reports Rs. 30 billion for the first stage of the Kurunegala–Dambulla route, between Kurunegala and Galewela, and Rs. 27 billion for the initial Kahathuduwa–Ingiriya stage of the Ruwanpura Expressway.