News

Trade Minister: 86 percent of govt. revenue spent on public servants

Published

4 years ago

2021/07/22

Trade Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardane yesterday said that 86 percent of government tax revenue was spent on paying salaries of the public servants and there was no other means to increase their salaries without increasing taxes on the public, selling public assets or obtaining loans.

Addressing the media at the Government Information Department auditorium the Minister said the total government tax revenue last year had been Rs. 1,216 billion, while the total amount spent on government salaries and pension payments was Rs 1,052 billion. After paying the salaries and pensions of public sector workers, the remainder of the total tax revenue was only 164 billion rupees, the Minister said.

Minister Gunawardane said the pandemic had badly hit the developed, middle income and poor countries across the world alike and over four million people had died. While hunger, malnutrition and poverty had increased, it was not an easy task to maintain public finance management for any government.

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News

Cabinet approves providing relief to the people of Myanmar

Published

23 mins ago

2025/04/2

Priyan

The People of Myanmar are facing immense hardships caused by the devastating earthquake on 28th March and as reported by the international media reports the death toll is over 2,700. Furthermore, it has been reported that many people are missing while, a large number of individuals have been injured and are receiving treatment.

Considering the long – term close relationship between the two nations as two Buddhist states, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to provide,

• A sum of United States Dollars One Million

• Transportation for the dry rations collected by Buddhist clergy and other donors

• To have a group of medical officers and health staff on standby for immediate departure to Myanmar if necessary

Latest News

Cabinet appoints ministerial committee to submit report on sanctions imposed on 04 Sri Lankans by the United Kingdom

Published

42 mins ago

2025/04/2

Priyan

Attention of the Cabinet of Ministers have been drawn on the decisions taken by the United Kingdom to impose sanctions on four Sri Lankan individuals recently, and have decided to appoint a committee comprised of three ministers to submit a report with recommendations on the further measures to be taken after studying the facts in the regard and to empower the committee to obtain the service of any officer/intellect deemed to have subject expertise in the relevant field and considered essential.

The committee will comprise of :

– Vijitha Herath Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism

– Attorney – at – Law Harshana Nanayakkara Minister of Justice and National Integrity

– Aruna Jayasekara Deputy Minister of Defence

News

Revised Aswasuma Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme to be submitted for the concurrence of the Parliament.

Published

58 mins ago

2025/04/2

Priyan

Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 17.03.2025 to amend the Aswasuma Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme by increasing the value of the benefits already being payed under the scheme.

The revised Aswasuma Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme has been published by the extraordinary gazette notification No. 2429/02 dated 24.03.2025.

Accordingly, he Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Policy Plannng and Economic Development to submit the said revised Aswasuma Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme to the Parliament for its concurrence.