The 2027 Appropriation Bill is scheduled to be presented to Parliament today (07), marking the beginning of the parliamentary process for next year’s Budget.

The Committee on Parliamentary Business decided that the Appropriation Bill for 2027 would be presented for its first reading today at a meeting chaired by Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, the Communication Department of Parliament announced.

The second reading of the Appropriation Bill, together with the presentation of the 2027 Budget proposals, is scheduled for November 12. The Budget Speech will be delivered by the President in his capacity as Minister of Finance.

The second reading debate will be held for seven days from November 13 to 20, with the vote on the second reading scheduled for 6 p.m. on November 20.

Following the second reading, Parliament will move to the Committee Stage, where individual expenditure heads will be considered. The Committee Stage debate is scheduled to run for 19 days from November 21 to December 14.

The final vote on the third reading of the Budget is scheduled for 6 p.m. on December 14, concluding the parliamentary Budget process.

Parliament will meet at 9.30 a.m. on each scheduled Budget debate day, including Saturdays, while Sundays and public holidays will be excluded.

During the Second Reading debate, 60% of the debate time will be allocated to the Government and 40% to the Opposition. For the Committee Stage, the allocation will be reversed, with 40% for the Government and 60% for the Opposition.

The parliamentary authorities have also made arrangements for divisions on individual expenditure heads. Where a division is called for an expenditure head relating to a particular ministry, the vote will be held at 6 p.m. at the conclusion of parliamentary proceedings on that day, the Communication Department of Parliament noted.