2017 annual budget on Nov. 10

The government will present the 2017 annual budget to Parliament on November 10, and allot one whole month till December 10 for the debate, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said yesterday.

Minister Karunanayake told Daily Mirror the government had initiated the process of formulating the annual budget.

President Maitripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Mr. Karunanayake have already met. The Minister said other segments concerned would be engaged in the preparation of the budget.

“The main budget speech will be made on November 10,” he said.

This will be the third budget to be presented in the House after the change of government in January 8, last year.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet will decide on the new Valued Added Tax (Amendment) Bill tomorrow.(Kelum Bandara)