Sri Lanka, Aug. 17 -- Sri Lanka is making notable progress in publishing fiscal data, yet ordinary citizens remain almost entirely locked out of shaping how public money is spent. According to the Open Budget Survey 2025, the island scored an encouraging 43 out of 100 for transparency, but a dismal 9 out of 100 for public participation. As preparations for the 2027 budget gather momentum, the government faces a critical test: moving beyond internal ministerial consultations to grant civil society a meaningful voice.

Sri Lanka's budget got more transparent this year. The public still has almost no say in it.

That's the takeaway from the Open Budget Survey 2025, the International Budget Partnership's latest assessment of how governments ...