"TISL views this as an extremely positive step to ensure more accountability in the national budget process," a press release issued by the TISL said yesterday.

"Sri Lanka’s budget process is ailing with inexplicable weaknesses in the system coupled with its secrecy both in contents and process. TISL has, on numerous occasions, pointed out the need to make the budget process transparents so that it would gather efficiency and accountability on its own and suggested that Sri Lanka forms a strong Budget Committee in Parliament", TISL Executive Director J. C. Weliamuna said in the release.

"Many countries have recognized the need to have a separate Budget Committee or Finance Committee in Parliament to examine the budget estimates, particularly its realistic nature. In this background, TISL requests all parties in Parliament to support the move of the Chief Government Whip and establish a Budget Committee comprising of all parties without further delay", TISL statement adds.