National Budget 2026 under spotlight at EY’s annual Post-Budget Discussion

Ernst & Young (EY) Sri Lanka successfully hosted its annual Post-Budget Discussion 2026 on November 7, at the Shangri-La Colombo, bringing together senior government officials, policymakers, and business leaders from across the country to analyse the key highlights and implications of the National Budget 2026.
This year’s event also marked a significant milestone for EY Sri Lanka. “This marks the 25th consecutive year that EY Sri Lanka has hosted the Post-Budget Discussion—a significant milestone that reflects our long-standing commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s fiscal dialogue and helping businesses navigate the evolving budget landscape,” said Duminda Hulangamuwa, Country Managing Partner, EY Sri Lanka & Maldives.
The programme featured a keynote address by Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, who provided valuable insights into the fiscal direction and policy priorities shaping Sri Lanka’s economic outlook.
The discussion that followed included thought-provoking perspectives from Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Treasury, Ministry of Finance & Planning, who attended as Guest of Honour; Harsha Amarasekera (PC), Chairman of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission; and Krishan Balendra, Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.
Further insights were shared by EY Sri Lanka’s tax leadership, who explored the budget’s implications for businesses, investors, and the broader economic landscape.
“The budget presented comes at a defining moment for Sri Lanka, where we must balance stability and growth while advancing IMF-linked reforms and meeting rising expectations from both taxpayers and the government,” noted Sulaiman Nishtar, Partner and Head of Tax, EY Sri Lanka & Maldives.
EY Sri Lanka’s tax leadership also examined on investment,the tax and regulatory issues and the wider economy.“One key area is the matter of holding companies in relation to VAT on financial services. As the government looks at SOE reforms, one approach under consideration is establishing a holding company structure, which would also open the door for foreign investors to participate through investments in these entities,” explained Shehani Paranavitane, Partner – Tax, EY 
Sri Lanka.