Budget 2026; Inflation to be maintained below 5%

Colombo, Nov. 7 (Daily Mirror) - President Anura Kumara Dissanayake presnting the Budget - 2026 in Parliament, pledged to maintain inflation below 5 percent and accelerate the country’s post-crisis economic recovery.

The President said his government aims to restore Sri Lanka’s pre-crisis economy by the end of 2025, four years ahead of earlier projections, while increasing the nation’s foreign reserves to 7 billion US dollars within this year.

Outlining key fiscal targets, President Dissanayake said the government plans to reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio to 87 percent by 2030 and restructure SriLankan Airlines’ USD 210 million debt before December.

He also announced plans to introduce an e-procurement system to enhance transparency and efficiency in public spending.

The President further revealed that an expert committee will soon be appointed to draft a code of ethics for the judiciary, while another expert panel has already been formed to expedite Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.

It also focuses on fiscal discipline, institutional reform, and rebuilding confidence in Sri Lanka’s economy.

Live Update: Follow our minute-by-minute coverage of the Sri Lanka Budget 2026 here