Business

Budget 2025: A spectrum of reactions and perspectives

Published

1 year ago

2025/02/19

By Sanath Nanayakkare

The 2025 Government Budget has begun to attract multiple comments from the corporate sector, academics, the government ranks and the Opposition. Reproduced below are a few of them.

First Capital Research’s analysts pointed out that the budget heavily leant towards social welfare and infrastructure development significantly increasing government expenditure.

“The already announced tax revenue measures and the digitalization drive are expected to boost Government Revenue allowing the Budget Deficit to be contained at 6.7% of GDP. A significant portion of increased government spending has been directed towards social spending with increased public sector salaries and pensions, coupled with higher allocation for assistance programs such as Aswesuma and other additional social benefits. While this ensures financial relief for many households, it also influences overall economic behavior in ways that will be felt across society. Efforts have also been made to support the lagging economy via public investments with spending targeted towards road construction, water projects, housing and city developments,” First Capital said.

“Despite the extravagant spending increases, a substantial increase in revenue is also planned with bulk of the revenue increase expected from taxes on vehicles while VAT on digital services, the imposition of corporate income tax on the export of services, and an increase in the corporate tax on cigarettes/liquor, and gaming is expected support to achieve the target. Further support is anticipated via digitalization and the expansion in the economy where the Government expects to provide a boost through spending on infrastructure, with the aim to balance spending with fiscal discipline while fostering long-term economic stability,” First Capital noted.

Government

“The Opposition was helpless when the President presented a progressive budget that brings good times for the people of this country. It was the most successful budget when looking back at the budgets presented in the past few decades,” Deputy Minister of Fisheries Ratna Gamage said.

“The government has delivered the best salary increments for state employees. The basic salaries of all state employees have increased across the board in significant amounts. Deputy Minister of Labour, Mahinda Jayasinghe said.

Academics

“Sri Lanka needs new technology-driven production economy. For that the contribution of the private sector is needed. The budget has not focused on that aspect,” Economist Professor Wasantha Athukorale said.

“There is some risk emanating from the increase of state employee salaries which will cost Rs. 300 billion within the next three years. This is more than what is collected from PAYEE tax. Dhananath Fernando of Advocata said.

Opposition

“The Budget represented the voice of the IMF, the sovereign bondholders and the scam-laden super-rich,” Peratugami Activist Pubudu Jayagoda said.

“The Budget presented by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake was the mother of all deceptions”, SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam said.

“When state employees get their salary in April, they will realize that they have been taken for a ride by the government, SJB MP Marikkar said.

Janasetha Peramuna leader Ven. Baththaramulle Seelarathan said the government which came to power through the massive support of Buddhist monks., has not made an allocation in the budget for enhancing the quality of education at Pirivenas although other areas of education had allocations.”

Udaya Gammanpila , Leader, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya said that they have identified 12 projects that no allocations were set apart for, through the budget.

Referring to a popular verse about wearing someone else’s pants and strutting about, Gammanpila said,” “The essence of the Budget reveals that the President is confidently adopting Ranil Wickremesinghe’s policies as if they were his own.

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Business

Ceylon Chamber Re-elects Chairperson Krishan Balendra at 187th AGM

Published

7 hours ago

2026/06/28

Thilina Walpola

Seated Left to Right - Vinod Hirdaramani, British High Commissioner Andrew Patrick, Krishan Balendra, Bingumal Thewarathanthri, Shiran Fernando

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce announced the re-election of Chairperson Krishan Balendra and the election of its Board for the Year 2026/27 at the Chamber’s 187 th Annual General Meeting on June 25. High Commissioner of Britain to Sri Lanka, Andrew Patrick, attended as Chief Guest.

The 2026/27 office-bearers are Chairperson Krishan Balendra, – Chairperson John Keells Holdings PLC, Vice Chairperson Bingumal Thewarathanthri – CEO, Standard Chartered Bank Sri Lanka, and Deputy Vice-Chairperson Vinod Hirdaramani – Chairman, Hirdaramani Group.

Jayanthi Dharmasena – Managing Director, Hayleys Agriculture Holdings Ltd., Kasturi Chellaraja Wilson – Chief Operating Officer, Head of APAC – 5Hour International Corporation Singapore, Shibani Thambiayah – Managing Director, Renuka Hotels PLC,Supun Weerasinghe – Director/Group CEO – Dialog Axiata PLC, and Shiran Fernando – Secretary-General and CEO will serve as Board Members. Rohana Dissanayake – Group Chairman and Managing Director of David Pieris Motor Company Pvt. Ltd. will also join the Board, replacing Bernhard Stefan – Managing Director – Nestlé Lanka PLC, who relocated overseas.

In his remarks, Balendra noted that over the past year, the Chamber adopted a more solutions-oriented approach to advocacy, focusing not only on identifying challenges but also on developing constructive recommendations in collaboration with government, industry stakeholders, and development partners, with this approach yielding stronger results. “Through our engagement in the Budget 2026 process, eighteen recommendations proposed by the Chamber were incorporated into the national budget, covering areas such as trade facilitation, investment promotion, digitalisation, infrastructure, and improving the ease of doing business.

This builds upon the strong momentum established in previous years and demonstrates the value of evidence-based, constructive engagement.

The Chamber also contributed to addressing emerging global trade challenges, including tariff-related issues affecting Sri Lankan exports. By representing private sector perspectives in Presidential Committees, we supported efforts to safeguard export competitiveness and strengthen trade resilience.”

Beyond advocacy, it significantly expanded its engagement footprint, strengthening bilateral partnerships across more than twenty countries, and supporting more than 1,800 SMEs through training, advisory services, and market access initiatives.

He added that over the next year, the Ceylon Chamber is committed to deepening engagement with members, strengthening global partnerships, enhancing support for SMEs, and accelerating efforts to promote exports and attract investment, and is committed to working with the Government and stakeholders to ensure a resilient and prosperous Sri Lanka.

Business

Kandy’s singing couple striking a harmonious chord

Published

7 hours ago

2026/06/28

Thilina Walpola

Vijitha Kingsley Bandara and Umesha Kalhari Navaratne

In the hill capital of Kandy, a husband-and-wife duo has won the admiration of music lovers with their shared passion for singing and their dedication to the art.

Vijitha Kingsley Bandara and Umesha Kalhari Navaratne have become familiar voices among audiences in Kandy, entertaining crowds with their musical talents while building a reputation as a versatile singing couple.

Kingsley began his musical journey at the age of 17, performing at outdoor musical shows before gaining opportunities to showcase his talent at several hotels in the Kandy area. His performances for local and foreign tourists further enhanced his reputation as a singer. He later took his musical talents overseas, entertaining audiences in several countries.

For the past 12 years, Kingsley has been engaged in singing at establishments operated by the Devon Group and The Grand Kandyan Hotel in Kandy, following an opportunity extended by Group Chairman Gamini Weeraratne.

Supporting him both in life and music, Umesha has also established herself as a singer, performing at Devon establishments. She also runs a home-based cake-making venture.

The couple, who continue to receive appreciation from music enthusiasts, said they are ready to accept invitations to perform at musical events across the country. They can be contacted on 071-1519130.

Text and Pic by SK Samaranayake

Business

ComBank unveils GIG+ for Lanka’s digital workforce

Published

7 hours ago

2026/06/28

Thilina Walpola

Recognising the rapid emergence of the gig economy in Sri Lanka, the Commercial Bank of Ceylon has introduced ‘ComBank GIG+’ – a specialised banking solution designed for freelancers, digital entrepreneurs, social media influencers, and individuals and businesses earning in foreign currency through overseas engagements to receive their foreign earnings, including PayPal-linked withdrawals, through a structured banking account.

ComBank GIG+ reflects a decisive shift in the country’s employment landscape, where a growing number of professionals are leveraging global digital platforms and remote work opportunities to build independent income streams. From freelance service providers operating on platforms such as Fiverr, Upwork and Freelancer.com, to content creators monetising audiences across YouTube, TikTok, Meta and X, this segment represents a dynamic and increasingly influential contributor to foreign exchange inflows.

ComBank GIG+ is tailored to meet the specific needs of these digital earners, offering account options in Sri Lanka Rupees as well as major foreign currencies including USD, EUR, GBP and AUD. The account is available to Sri Lankan citizens aged 18 and above residing in the country, as well as duly registered business entities, subject to verification of foreign currency income derived through recognised digital and remote work channels.

Commenting on the introduction of ComBank GIG+, Hasrath Munasinghe, Chief Operating Officer of Commercial Bank said: “The rise of independent digital earners represents a structural shift in how value is created and exported from Sri Lanka. With ComBank GIG+, we are establishing a banking framework that not only recognises this segment, but also integrates it more meaningfully into the formal financial system. This enables individuals and businesses operating beyond traditional employment models to build a verifiable financial track record, access formal financial services, scale their operations, and contribute more visibly to the country’s economic growth.”

The launch of ComBank GIG+ is particularly timely following Sri Lanka’s recent enablement of PayPal linked withdrawals, which has simplified the process of bringing overseas digital earnings into the country.

In addition to facilitating PayPal-linked withdrawals and foreign currency inflows, the Bank said the ComBank GIG+ account offers a range of value-added benefits including first-year fee waivers on credit cards and digital banking services, preferential foreign exchange rates for qualifying conversions into Sri Lanka Rupees, and the opportunity to establish a structured banking relationship that may support future access to financing and other financial solutions. These features are designed to enhance financial efficiency while supporting the day-to-day banking needs of digitally active customers.

By aligning its product innovation with evolving global work patterns, Commercial Bank continues to strengthen its position as a forward-looking, technology-driven institution. The introduction of ComBank GIG+ underscores the Bank’s commitment to supporting new economic segments, enhancing financial inclusion, and enabling Sri Lankan talent to participate more effectively in the global digital economy.