The Committee on Parliamentary Business has announced that the Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill for the fiscal year 2027 is set for November 12, 2026. This will be followed by a debate on the Second Reading from November 13 to December 14, as confirmed by Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera, the Secretary General of Parliament.
This decision emerged from a recent meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business presided over by Hon. Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne.
The Appropriation Bill is slated for its First Reading in Parliament on October 7, according to the Secretary General.
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Additionally, the Hon. President, serving as the Finance Minister, is scheduled to deliver the Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill on Thursday, November 12, 2026. The subsequent debate on the Second Reading will occur over a week, concluding with a vote at 6:00 p.m. on November 20.
Following this, the Committee Stage debate will take place over 19 days, from November 21 to December 14, with the Third Reading vote of the Budget set for 6:00 p.m. on December 14.
During this timeframe, the Budget debate will be conducted daily, including Saturdays, with the exception of public holidays and Sundays. Parliament will convene each day at 9:30 a.m.
From 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., time will be reserved for Parliamentary business as outlined in Standing Order 22(1) to (6). Following this, five Questions for Oral Answers will be addressed from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., and one question under Standing Order 27(2) will be discussed from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
The main debate is scheduled to run from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. On days when votes are not occurring, Motions at Adjournment Time will be debated from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., with time divided equally between the Government and the Opposition, as noted by the Secretary General.
It was also established that during the Second Reading debate, 60% of the allotted time will be given to the Government, while 40% will be allocated to the Opposition. Conversely, in the Committee Stage debate, the Government will receive 40% of the time, with 60% reserved for the Opposition.
Moreover, if a division is requested regarding an Expenditure Head associated with a Ministry, the corresponding vote will take place at 6:00 p.m. following the proceedings of that day.
