News
PM to submit supplementary estimate of Rs. 695 billion to Parliament today
By Saman Indrajith
The Committee on Public Finance yesterday approved a Supplementary Estimate for Rs.695 billion under the Budget Assistance Services and Emergency Responsibilities.
This proposal was submitted by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as Finance, Economic Stabilisation, and National Policies Minister.
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as Finance Minister, is scheduled to present the supplementary estimate to Parliament today (08).
Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance Anura Priyadarshana Yapa told the committee meeting held at the Parliamentary complex yesterday that the government had introduced an assistance package for Samurdhi beneficiaries, estate communities, pensioners and government servants, at the beginning of 2022, to reduce as much as possible the hardships faced by the public due to the adverse economic conditions.
Of the Rs 695 billion estimate, Rs 395 billion has been for recurrent expenditure while the remaining 300 billion rupees have been allocated for capital expenses.
Finance Ministry Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana explained to the public finance committee the need for the estimate and the areas where the funds to be utilized, parliamentary sources said.
The estimate, approved by the committee, is envisaged to spend Rs 87 billion to continue payment of the monthly allowance of Rs 5,000, given to government servants from January 2022, a sum of Rs 40 billion to continue the payment of Rs 5,000 to the pensioners and a sum of 15 billion to pay Rs 1,000 to the Samurdhi recipients.
In addition, Rs 140 billion was sought to pay Samurdhi benefactors, affected by the difficult economic situation, Rs 50 billion for the Ceylon Electricity Board to settle outstanding payments to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, Rs 12 billion for green agriculture, and Rs 50 billion for payments for fertiliser.
The estimate seeks Parliament’s approval to spend Rs 25 billion to provide food to the security forces, prisons and hospitals,due to the increase of prices, further Rs 4.5 billion for other recurrent expenditure, Rs 21 billion for loan interests. Parliament approval is also sought to spend Rs 250 billion for expenses connected with the Indian line of Credit to import essential items.
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
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