The Appropriation Bill for the 2024 fiscal year is set to be submitted to Parliament during the second week of October, with President Ranil Wickremesinghe scheduled to present the second reading of the budget on November 13.
State Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said that the budget debate is anticipated to take place from November 14 to 21, with the voting for the second reading scheduled for the afternoon of the 21st.
Furthermore, the vote on the Third Reading is scheduled for December 13.
Following the budget's adoption, it is expected to be enacted into law by December 27, subject to the Speaker's approval. Subsequently, government expenditures will be allocated through the new budget after December 31, the State Minister said.
Significantly, the government has allocated greater resources for health, education, and welfare expenses in this year's budget, with welfare expenditure seeing a substantial increase from approximately Rs. 65 billion to about Rs. 185 billion, he said.
