2026 Budget Passed with 157-Vote Majority; Major Relief Package Announced for Disaster-Affected Families

The Third Reading of the 2026 Appropriation Bill was passed in Parliament yesterday (05), securing a majority of 157 votes. A total of 158 MPs voted in favour, while one MP voted against and two abstained.

All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) MP G.G. Ponnambalam cast the sole vote against the Budget, while S. Shritharan and Thurairasa Ravikaran of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) abstained.

The final vote began at 7.30 p.m., bringing this year’s Budget process to a close. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake delivered a special statement in Parliament prior to the vote.

The Committee Stage debate, forming the Third Reading, commenced on November 15 and was scheduled for 17 days, including three Saturdays. Several sittings were adjourned due to the severe weather conditions affecting the country.

Parliament’s Department of Communication also confirmed that a supplementary estimate of Rs. 50 billion has been submitted to provide urgent relief to those affected by Cyclone Ditwah.

The Second Reading debate was held from November 8–14 and passed with a 118-vote majority, with 160 MPs voting in favour, 42 against, and 8 abstaining. The 2026 Appropriation Bill, the 80th National Budget, was presented to Parliament on November 7 by President Dissanayake in his capacity as Minister of Finance.

In his address, the President also announced a wide-ranging relief package for families affected by the recent disaster. Key measures include:

• Rs. 25,000 monthly allowance per family for three months for displaced families resettling in homes.
• Rs. 50,000 monthly allowance for families remaining in displacement camps.
• A one-time Rs. 50,000 grant for households to purchase essential items.
• Rs. 25,000 in total for each affected student (Rs. 15,000 from the Treasury and Rs. 10,000 from the President’s Fund).
• Rs. 5 million to rebuild homes completely destroyed.
• Rs. 5 million additional support for those who lost land, where government land is unavailable.
• Up to Rs. 2.5 million for repairing partially damaged homes.
• Rs. 200,000 for registered animal farms destroyed by adverse weather.
• Rs. 150,000 per hectare for grain crops such as paddy and maize.
• Rs. 200,000 per hectare for replanting damaged vegetable cultivations.

The President also revealed that the government has requested USD 200 million in relief financing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and has asked the IMF to increase the upcoming February 2026 tranche of USD 341 million, with discussions to follow.

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