The Cabinet of ministers approved Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera's budget which will be presented to Parliament this afternoon. 

The Cabinet met at 8.30 AM today at the Presidential Secretariat, under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena. 

The budget is expected to be a populist one as a crucial Presidential election is scheduled later this year. 

A salary hike for government sector workers is expected along with multiple measures to increase the direct tax revenue. 

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera tweeted that the theme of this year's budget will be 'empowering the people, nurturing the poor.'