• 2026 Budget proposals to be sought from June
• 11 JICA projs. to resume, halted Chinese projs. including Kadawatha-Mirigama highway to resume, 76 new projs. with the Chinese 

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has announced that a bill aimed at recovering illegally acquired assets will be presented to the Parliament on 8 April by the Government.

Speaking at a public meeting in the Welipitiya area of Matara, the President emphasised: “On 8 April, we will pass legislation in the Parliament to recover stolen and illegally accumulated wealth. This bill is not about personal revenge but about upholding the law and restoring sovereignty in our motherland,” he stated.

Additionally, the President announced that proposals for the 2026 Budget would be accepted starting from June of this year.

Meanwhile, speaking on the country’s economic recovery, President Dissanayake highlighted that several foreign-funded projects abandoned due to the economic crisis would be recommenced. “The Japanese Government halted 11 projects that had been funded through loans from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). However, they have now agreed to resume all 11 projects, which indicates economic stability.”

He further stated that the construction of the Kadawatha-Mirigama highway section, which was financed by a loan from the Export-Import Bank of China, was suspended when the country declared bankruptcy. 

“This suspension resulted in an estimated loss of Rs. 56,000 million, while an interest payment of Rs. 21 million per day was required to be paid to a Chinese company. Following discussions with the Chinese Government during our recent visit, an agreement was reached to resume the halted projects, including the expressway, and to initiate 76 new projects. This is a clear indication that the economy is stabilising,” the President added.