Saturday Oct 10, 2026
Saturday Oct 10, 2026
Saturday, 10 October 2026 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) says only one of its 18 policy proposals included in the National Budget 2026 has been completed. None of the 17 proposals adopted in Budget 2025 has yet been completed.
The figures come from the Chamber’s latest Progress Tracker, compiled by the CCC Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU). The tracker is current as at 8 September, 2026, and arrives weeks before the Government presents Budget 2027.
According to the tracker, 13 of the Budget 2026 proposals are work in progress, three have been initiated and one has not been initiated. The EIU classifies a proposal as initiated when money has been allocated through donations, Cabinet papers or similar means.
The sole completed proposal is the commercial launch of 5G broadband services, which the Budget addressed through the issue of 5G licences. The proposal yet to be initiated is a unified government body for the tourism sector. The Budget had sought to deliver it by restructuring tourism institutions to improve productivity and efficiency.
Three proposals have been initiated: a residence visa scheme for foreign investors who meet minimum investment thresholds in priority sectors or eligible projects; a National Land Use Plan with a digital land registry; and execution of the National Tourism Destination Marketing Plan.
Several proposals still in progress carried explicit Budget timelines. The National Digital ID system remains work in progress, although the Budget had targeted the first digital ID for March 2026. Reform of State-owned enterprises (SOEs) is also still in progress. The Budget had said a new Public Commercial Business Management Act would be presented to Parliament in the first half of 2026. The expansion of Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) capacity is likewise unfinished, despite the Budget’s pledge to resume the stalled project in the first quarter of 2026.
The other proposals in progress are: the National Single Window (NSW), a single digital platform for trade approvals; a National Tariff Policy to phase out para-tariffs, the cesses and levies imposed on imports on top of customs duties; a comprehensive Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework; a one-stop-shop for large-scale investments through a digital single window at the Board of Investment (BOI); wider SME access to enhanced capital allowances, by cutting the qualifying investment threshold to $ 250,000 from $ 3 million; integration of fragmented Government digital platforms into a single interoperable system; digital payment adoption, including scrapping service fees on online payments to Government institutions; faster release of land for investment; improved tourism infrastructure and connectivity; promotion of cultural and festive activities.
The Budget 2025 tracker, also current as at 8 September, 2026, shows no completed proposals out of 17. Of these, 10 are work in progress, six have been initiated and one has not been initiated.
The proposal not yet initiated is a dedicated hotline connecting tourists directly with the nearest police station. The Budget had instead proposed technology-based links between the tourist police, Government agencies and civic organisations.
The six initiated proposals are: a one-stop-shop consolidating business approvals; a specialised funding agency for MSMEs, which the Budget proposed to set up as a development bank function within the existing state bank mechanism; streamlined approvals at the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) through a digital eNMRA system; greater private sector involvement in healthcare; access to global pools of ESG and sustainable finance; digital ticketing at tourist sites.
The 10 proposals in progress are: closer ties with ASEAN through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP); automation of key border agencies and their integration into the NSW; a modern customs law to replace the Customs Ordinance; expansion of Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements beyond the current 44 countries; a PPP legal framework; expansion of BIA Terminal 2 with Japanese support; a Unique Digital ID for all citizens; national data protection and cybersecurity measures; a holding company for the remaining SOEs.
Several reforms appear in both trackers and remain unfinished two Budgets on. These include the NSW, the PPP framework, the digital ID, the one-stop-shop for investors and BIA expansion.
The tracker comes as the Government prepares Budget 2027. The 2027 Appropriation Bill was scheduled for its First Reading in Parliament on 7 October, with the Second Reading and Budget speech set for 12 November. The Second Reading debate will run from 13 to 20 November, and the Committee Stage debate from 21 November to 14 December.
