US support for Sri Lanka Parliament’s Budget Oversight efforts
COLOMBO – The United States is supporting efforts by Sri Lanka’s Parliament to strengthen its capacity for independent analysis of government spending, economic policy, and legislation through a week-long technical assistance program in Colombo.
The initiative, running from June 8 to 12, is being conducted by the US Embassy in Sri Lanka in partnership with the House Democracy Partnership (HDP) and the US Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
A delegation comprising HDP Program Manager Meagan Moore and CBO experts Megan Carroll and Christi Hawley Anthony is engaging with approximately 100 Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff to share best practices on independent and nonpartisan budget analysis and oversight of public expenditure.
The program includes a series of working sessions with Members of Parliament and officials attached to the Committee on Public Finance (COPF), focusing on the potential establishment of a Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) in Sri Lanka. Discussions are examining institutional design, legislators’ information needs, and a roadmap for developing long-term analytical capacity within Parliament.
According to a statement from the US Embassy, the initiative is intended to support evidence-based policymaking and strengthen parliamentary oversight of public finances.
In the United States, Congress relies on the Congressional Budget Office, an independent and nonpartisan institution, to provide objective analysis of budgetary and economic issues. Similar institutions operate in legislatures around the world, helping lawmakers evaluate the costs, economic impacts, and long-term fiscal consequences of proposed policies and legislation.
As Sri Lanka explores establishing a Parliamentary Budget Office, CBO experts are sharing practical tools, methodologies, and lessons learned from the US experience to help enhance Parliament’s oversight role.
The statement said the exchange reflects broader US efforts to promote transparency, accountability, and economic stability among partners in the Indo-Pacific region while supporting conditions conducive to trade, investment, and sustainable growth.
As a follow-up to the program, the US Embassy said it plans to sponsor an exchange visit to the United States in September for a select group of Sri Lankan Members of Parliament, providing them with firsthand exposure to governance and budget oversight mechanisms used by the US Congress.
-ENCL
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