📈 2027 Budget Pivot: Focus on Public Transport to Cut Household Costs

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has directed ministries to prioritize public transport in the upcoming 2027 Budget, framing affordable mobility as a core public service comparable to Sri Lanka's free healthcare system. The strategy aims to reduce the financial burden of daily commuting and boost national productivity. Key directives and sector focuses based on the pre-Budget review: • Transport & Fleet Modernization: Initiating a phased retirement of aging buses. Plans include introducing better-equipped vehicles and launching new metro buses specifically for short-distance urban services to improve commuter comfort. • Urban Development & Infrastructure: Reviewed ongoing and upcoming projects spanning apartment construction, urban waste management, and the national City Branding program, focusing on initiatives that can be completed within the next year. • Fiscal Discipline & Foreign Financing: The President ordered strict outcome-based evaluations for all infrastructure investments. Projects funded via foreign loans will no longer receive approval without a clear, verified understanding of their intended economic outcomes and value for money.