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Govt to review role of 115 state entities costing Rs140bn a year

Published

2 years ago

2024/12/22

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka will review the role of 115 state entities which cost 140 billion rupees a year to maintain, Cabinet Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa said.

Sri Lanka now has 86 departments, 25 district secretariats, and 339 divisional secretariats; 340 enterprises owned by the government and 115 non-commercial state statutory institutions other than police.

“There are boards, commissions, foundations, universities and statutory entities,” Jayatissa said.

“In the 2024 budget, 140 billion rupees was allocated for these entities.”

The 115 non-commercial state statutory institutions come under the supervision of the Department of National Budget and 51 institutions under the Department of Public Enterprises.

The purpose of these establishments has decreased over time, or the entities have lost its timeliness, and they lack or have very little power to initiate programs, and sometimes overlap with other establishments, Jayatissa said.

There was a timely requirement to conduct a review of these entities, he said, and the Cabinet of Ministers had approved a proposal to appoint an official committee headed by the Prime Minister’s secretary to conduct such a review and submit a report with recommendations.

Any savings made following the review will reduce the tax burden of the state on the people, in a spending based fiscal consolidation move.

Sri Lanka has been operating a ‘revenue based fiscal consolidation’ strategy under the IMF from around 2015 which eventually led to sovereign default after money was printed to target potential output. Technical assistance to target potential output was also given by the IMF.

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Introduction of Flora and Fauna (Regulation of actions of the Indigenous Community within the nominated areas) Regulations

Published

1 hour ago

2026/10/6

Priyan

With the objective of securing the traditional livelihood and the eco system of the indigenous community, it has been recognized the necessity of introducing a formal regulation methodology to secure their engagement in livelihood activities by being more sensitive to the existing laws.

Thereby, the Fauna and Flora (regularizing) regulations under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (Authority 469) have been prepared so that nominated activities within the prescribed area to a member of the indigenous community
who has been registered for securing the rights acquired from law or custom or usage or traditional stance to execute an act within a certain state land that is fundamental to the survival of the indigenous community permission can be granted

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to publish the said regulations in the government gazette notification and thereby submit to the Parliament for its concurrence.

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M. M. D. J. Senarathne, appointed Director General of the Department of National Botanical Gardens

Published

1 hour ago

2026/10/6

Priyan

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to appoint M. M. D. J. Senarathne, who is the senior most officer in Grade I of Sri Lanka Scientific Service se

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New Chancellor appointed to General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University

Published

10 hours ago

2026/10/6

Priyan

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Air Chief Marshal Kolitha A. Gunathilake (Retd.) as the new Chancellor of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University.

The letter of appointment was presented to Air Chief Marshal Kolitha A. Gunathilake (Retd.) by Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake at the Presidential Secretariat on Monday (05) afternoon.

Air Chief Marshal Kolitha A. Gunathilake(Retd.) has served as Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force and as Chief of Defence Staff.

(PMD)