Committee Stage Debate on 2026 Budget Begins Today

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Committee Stage Debate on the 2026 Budget begins today and will continue for 17 days, concluding on December 5th.

The third reading of the budget is scheduled to be held on December 5th at 6:00 PM.

The second reading of the 2026 Budget was passed yesterday with a majority of 118 votes. 

A total of 160 votes were cast in favour of the budget proposal, while 42 votes were against it. 

Eight members abstained from voting.

In support of the proposal to increase the wages of estate workers, three Tamil Progressive Alliance MPs—including Mano Ganesan, whose party is aligned with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, voted in favour of the budget.

It is also noteworthy that the General Secretary of the Ceylon Workers’ Congress, Jeevan Thondaman, who sits in the opposition, voted in favour as well.

The 2026 Budget was presented to Parliament by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on the 7th of November.