Ceylon Chamber presents 2026 Budget wish list to President

President Anura Kumara Disanayake 

From right: The Ceylon Chamber Chairperson Krishan Balendra, Vice Chairperson Bingumal Thewarathanthri, and Board Member Jayanthi Dharmasena

• Set up National Single Window, modernise Customs law, establish full-time FTA negotiation team 
• Advance private-sector-led investment zones, continue BOI import/export clearance support
• Introduce structured incentives for local, foreign investors
• Roll out global tourism marketing campaign, expedite BIA terminal expansion
• Accelerate National Digital ID and 5G rollout, expand rural broadband coverage
• Increase agricultural productivity with mechanisation, promote large-scale data centres 
• Establish B-READY Task Force, implement PPP Act, and strengthen National PPP Agency
• President notes Govt. priorities: public sector reform and private sector role in infrastructure development
• Govt. committed to advancing PPPs in energy, tourism and agriculture
• Govt. will streamline processes with pre-approved clearances to facilitate investments

The newly appointed Board of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, led by Chairperson Krishan Balendra, held its first official meeting with President Anura Kumara Disanayake yesterday to discuss ways to sustain collaboration between the Government and business to move reforms forward, build investor confidence, and position Sri Lanka as a competitive and resilient economy. 

The meeting provided a platform to present The Ceylon Chamber’s priority proposals for the forthcoming National Budget 2026, while also reviewing progress on previous reform initiatives.

In a statement, The Ceylon Chamber said its proposals were structured around the following five broad themes, with specific reforms aimed at strengthening growth and competitiveness:

• Trade and investment facilitation – Establishing a National Single Window, modernising the Customs Ordinance, setting up a dedicated Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiation team, advancing a private-sector-led investment zone, continuation of facilitation of import/export clearance with the Board of Investment (BOI), and a well-structured incentive scheme for both local and foreign large investments in line with other emerging markets.
• Tourism and infrastructure – Launching a global marketing campaign for tourism and expediting the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) terminal expansion project.

•Digital economy and innovation – Accelerating the rollout of a National Digital ID and rollout of 5G Broadband, while expanding rural broadband.

•Sector enablers – Boosting agricultural productivity through mechanisation and fostering an enabling environment for data centre investments.

•Ease of doing business reform– Establishing a National B-READY Task Force to drive business climate reforms, implementation of a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Act, and strengthening the National Agency for PPPs.

The Ceylon Chamber also highlighted progress made on previous Budget submissions, noting the integration of 17 proposals into the 2025 National Budget, with 14 of these already showing partial or advanced progress.

The President and The Ceylon Chamber leadership discussed the need for sustained collaboration between the Government and business to move reforms forward, build investor confidence, and position Sri Lanka as a competitive and resilient economy. 

The President updated the Chamber on the Government’s priority areas, including comprehensive public sector reform, modernising procurement, and ensuring more opportunities for private sector participation in infrastructure development. 

He also pointed to the Government’s commitment to fostering an enabling environment for growth by advancing PPPs in key sectors, such as energy, tourism, and agriculture, while highlighting the importance of streamlining processes through pre-approved clearances to facilitate investments.

The President also said that setting clear goals and formulating policies to achieve them can support economic growth, promote social well-being, and strengthen environmental sustainability, thereby contributing to a more prosperous future for the country.

The Ceylon Chamber officials reaffirmed their commitment to partner with policymakers in ensuring effective implementation of reforms that will unlock growth opportunities and strengthen the role of the private sector in driving national development.