Following the publication of the 2021 Appropriation Bill in the Gazette on 06 th October, it was presented to Parliament by Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa on 20 th October 2020 for the first reading. Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake stated that the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance is due to present the second reading of 2021 Appropriation Bill (budget speech) in Parliament today (17) at 1.40 pm.
Subsequently, the Prime Minister will make the budget speech and it is considered as the 75th budget report of the country. The Appropriation Bill is presented to allocate Rs. 2,678 billion for the service expenditure and according to the Bill, limit on borrowings for the financial year 2021 has been set at Rs. 2,900 billion.
The second reading debate of the budget will be held from the 18th to the 21st of this month following the presentation of the budget speech by the Prime Minister. The vote on
the second reading will be taken place on November 21st at 5.00 pm. Parliament sittings will be held from the 18th to the 20th from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm.
The debate of the Committee Stage will commence on the 23 rd November and is scheduled to conclude on 10 th of December. Accordingly, the Vote will be held at 5.00 pm on the 10 th December.
Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake stated that arrangements have been made to hold sittings of Parliament in accordance with all health guidelines and
regulations during the entire period of the budget debate from Nov: (17).
Only Ambassadors and officials authorized by the Ministry of Finance are invited tomorrow, and seats reserved in the Speaker's Gallery during the budget presentation will be subjected to health and safety regulations. Meanwhile, the Public Gallery and the Media Gallery will remain closed.
Following the budget speech, traditional tea party hosted by the Minister of Finance will be held this year but it will be limited to Members of Parliament, Ministers, Ambassadors and invitees.
Due to the prevailing COVID 19 situations, MPs will not be able to bring guests to Parliament during the budget debate.
