Budget 2023 presented to parliament on Nov. 14

The Appropriation Bill for the fiscal year 2023 will be tabled in the parliament for the second reading on November 14, the Committee on Parliamentary Business decided today (Oct. 27).

The committee met under the chairmanship of Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

Accordingly, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization & National Policies, will deliver the opening speech of the second reading of the Appropriation Bill to Parliament at 1.30 p.m. on November 14.

The debate on the second reading of the Appropriation Bill will begin on November 15 and the vote on the second reading has been scheduled for November 22 at 5.00 p.m.

The debate on the committee stage of the Appropriation Bill will begin on November 23 and the vote was decided to be held on December 08 at 5.00 p.m.

Accordingly, parliament will meet on all other days of the week except on Sundays and Poya Days, from November 14 to December 08.

It is decided not to allot time for Questions for Oral Answers on the days of the budget debate, Secretary General of the Parliament, Dhammika Dasanayake said.

Hence, on December 09, from 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., a total of 50 questions are set aside for Questions for Oral Answers.

The budget debate will be held from 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. and the time from 5.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. is reserved for Questions or motions at the Adjournment Time.

The Parliament will convene on November 08 and on that day, from 10.30 a.m. to 5.00 a.m., according to the motion brought by the National People’s Power (NPP), the Motion at the Adjournment Time by the Opposition regarding the current situation of the country is scheduled to be held.

On November 09, from 10.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., Order under the Value-Added Tax (VAT) Act, two notifications under the Excise Ordinance, Order under the Finance Act, Regulations under the Foreign Exchange Act are scheduled to be passed.

On November 10, from 10.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., the Small Claims Courts’ Procedure, Small Claims Courts’ Procedure, Small Claims Courts’ Procedure, Civil Procedure Code (Amendment), Kandyan Marriage and Divorce (Amendment), Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs (Amendment), Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment), Children and Young Persons (Amendment), Dangerous Animals (Amendment) and Rules under the Prisons Ordinance, three regulations under the Fisheries and the Aquatic Resources Act to be presented by the Minister of Justice is scheduled for its Second Reading.

Parliament will convene on the afore mentioned 3 days at 9.30 a.m. and time has been allotted until 10.30 a.m. for Questions for Oral Answers. On the aforementioned days, the time period from 5.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. is reserved for Questions and Motions at the Adjournment Time.

Parliament will convene on November 11 at 9.30 a.m. and until 5.30 p.m. the Votes of Condolence on the late Parliamentarians Chandrakumara Wijeya Gunawardane, T. B. Ekanayake, K. Thurairetnasingam and Ven. Baddegama Samitha Thero is scheduled to be taken up.