US Delegation Holds Discussions at Parliament

13-Jun-2026

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The Parliament of Sri Lanka is exploring the establishment of a Parliamentary Budget Office to provide comparative analytical support to Members of Parliament and parliamentary committees as part of efforts to strengthen parliamentary oversight and evidence-based policymaking.

According to a statement issued by the US Embassy in Colombo, representatives of the US Congressional Budget Office shared their experiences and best practices with Sri Lankan stakeholders in this regard.

A delegation from the United States House Democracy Partnership undertook an official visit to Sri Lanka from June 8 to 12.

The US Embassy stated that, in collaboration with the House Democracy Partnership and the US Congressional Budget Office, it is supporting efforts to strengthen Parliament’s capacity to independently analyse government expenditure, economic policies, and proposed legislation.

As part of a week-long technical assistance programme in Colombo, a delegation comprising House Democracy Partnership Executive Director Megan Moore, along with Megan Carroll and Kristi Hawley, conducted discussions with approximately 100 Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff. The discussions focused on international best practices in providing independent and non-partisan analysis of budget oversight and public expenditure.

Topics covered included the design and structure of a Parliamentary Budget Office and identifying the information requirements of Members of Parliament.

Parliamentary Budget Offices in several countries assist legislatures in assessing the economic impact and long-term fiscal implications of proposed policies and legislation. Sri Lanka’s Parliament is currently examining the feasibility of establishing a similar institution, and the US delegation shared relevant experiences from the American parliamentary system.